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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRIET 

WIBSTIR,  NY.  M5S0 

(716)  872-4S03 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Hittoricai  IVIicroreproductionB 


Inatitut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  historiquas 


1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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D 


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D 


D 
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12X 

16X 

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24X 

28X 

32X 

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la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

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filmis  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

SELECTION 


OF   SOME 


OF  THE  MOST  INTERESTING 

NARRATIVES 


OF 


OUTRAGES  COMMITTED 


BY  THE 


INDIANS 


IN 


WITH  THE  WHITE  PEOPLE. 

ALSO, 

An  Account  of  their  Manners,  Customs,  Traditions,  Religious  Senti- 
ments, Mode  of  Warfare,  Military  Tactics,  Discipline  and  Encamp- 
ments, Treatment  of  Prisoners,  &c.  which  are  better  Explained,  and 
more  Minutely  Related,  than  has  been  heretofore  done,  by  any  other 
Author  on  that  subject.  Many  of  the  Articles  have  never  before  ap- 
peared in  print.     The  whole  Compiled  irom  the  best  Authorities, 


Bv  ARCHIBALD  LOUDON. 


VOLUME  IL 


CARLISLE : 
From    the    Press    ok    A.    Loudon. 

181L 


listrid  of  §ettnsslb»nl»»  to  wit 


******!  I      Be  it  remembered,  That  on  the  ninth  day  of  August,  in 

I  SEAL.)  t  the  Thirty  Third  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 

*it*****  States  of  America,  A.  D.  1808.     Archibald  Loudon,  of  the 

said  District,  hath  deposited  in  this  Office,  the  Title  of  a  Book,  the 

Right  whereof  he  claims  as  Author,  in  the  Words  following,  to  wit : 

*'  A  Selection  of  some  of  the  most  Interesting  Narratives  of  Outrages 
"Committed  by  the  Indians,  in  their  Wars  with  the  White  People. 
"  Also,  an  account  of  their  Manners,  Customs,  Traditions,  Religious 
"  Sentiments,  Mode  of  Warfare,  Military  Tactics,  Discipline  and  En- 
"  campments.  Treatment  of  Prisoners,  &c.  which  are  better  Explained, 
"  and  more  Minutely  Related,  than  has  been  heretofore  done,  by  any 
"  other  Author  on  that  Subject.  Many  of  the  Articles  have  never 
•'  before  appeared  in  print.  The  whole  compiled  from  the  bc'St  Authori- 
"  ties, — By  Archibald  Loudon." 

In  Conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  in- 
tituled, "An  Act  for  the  Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the 
Copies  of  Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of 
such  Copies  during  the  Times  therein  mentioned."  And  also  to  the 
Act  entitled  "An  Act  supplementary  to  Act,  entitled,  "An  Act  for  the 
Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  Copies  of  Maps,  Charts, 
and  Books,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies  during  the 
Times  therein  mentioned,"  and  extending  the  Benefits  thereof  to  the 
Arts  of  designing,  engraving  and  etching  historical  and  other  Prints." 

1).  CALDWELL,  Clerk  of  the 
District  of  Pennsylvania. 


Contents. 


Battie  of  Wyoming, { 

"         in  verse, 13 

Captivity  of  Robert  Eastburn, 17 

Richard  BanV  s  Captivity, 47 

M'Manimy  Burn'd, 50 

Capt.  WJiite  Eyes  attempts  to  kill  R.  Bard,  .  .  61 
Murder  oj  James  Watson  and  W.  M'Mullin,  .        65 

Taking  of  Free  land' s  Fort, 66 

Benjamin  Gilbert's  Captivity,  .  .  .  .  .69 
Robert  Robinson's  Narrative,  ....  160 
Col.  J.  Armstrong's  attack  on  the  Kittaning,  .  .161 
Capt.  Mercer's  suf prising  escape  from  do.,  .  .  163 
£>avid  Owen  murders  his  wife  and  3  children,  .  .  166 
Murder  of  Whites  and  Campbells  on  Juniata,      .         .    ib. 

Skirmish  at  Buffalo e  creek, 168 

Alexander  Logan  and  others  killed,  .         .         .169 

Samuel  Bell's  encounter  7vith  three  Indians,  .  171 

Murder  of  Sheridan's  family, 173 

Cotties  an  Indian  killed  at  Hunter's  Fort,  .  .174 
Battle  of  Munsey, '     /        if, 

Murder  of  three  Indian  prisoners,           .         .         .  176 

Great  Cove  destroyed, 17g 

M' Swine  kills  an  Indian  and  White  man,  .  .  ib. 
Mitchell's  reapers  killed,          .         .         ...      180 

Miraculous  escape  of  John  Steel,        .                 .  .181 

Captivity  of  Hugh  Gibson,     .        .        .        .        .  ib. 

A  woman  tortured, Ig2 

Fort  Granville  taken,         .         .         .         .      *  .  .    ]  85 

A  victoty  over  Indians  in  Fax  ton,         .         .         .  187 

Modes  of  torture  by  the  Indians,      .         .         .         .  ;-^, 

Short  Account  of  the  Battle  of  Munsey,      .         .  .191 

Mrs.  Durham  scalped, 193 

Mrs.  Porter's  encounter  with  three  Indians,        .  .194 


IV 


CONTENTS. 


List  of  Persons  killed  by  the  Indians^     .        .        .  195 

T/ie  cause  which  gave  rise  to  the  ivar  in  1774,     .       .  199 

Capt.  Logan's  celebrated  speech^      ....  209 

Some  account  of  the  person  of  capt.  John  Logan,     .  214 

General  remarks  by  Charles  Thomson,       .         .        ,  216 

Jefferson' s  account  of  an  Indian  burial  ground,         .  312 

St.  Clair's  Defeat, 236 

Extracts  from  the  history  of  the  American  Indians,     .  251 

The  Rainmaker, ib. 

Marriage  of  the  Dark  ianthorn,         ....  263 

The  Archimagus's  opinion  concerning  Hottentots,      .  266 

Indian  musical  instrument, 267 

The  old  Physician  or  Prophet,         ....  268 

Laet's  description  of  America,           ....  275 

South  American  Indians  hope  of  a  resurrection,      .  ib. 

Reasons  for  believing  they  are  descendants  of  Jews,      .  277 

Cherokee  women' s  opinion  of  the  whites,          .         .  281 

Herbert's  Spring, 282 

Fort  Loudon,  whetstones  for  rasors,  red,  white,  ^c.  .  283 

Priber,  a  man  of  curious  speculative  temper,         .  286 

Method  of  crossing  deep  rivers^         ....  298 

The  two  Bachanalians, 303 

Similar  instance, 304 

Instances  of  Indian  fortitude  at  death,           .         .  311 

Indian  ceremonies  on  their  return  from  war,      .         .  317 

Exceedingly  pointed  against  our  method  of  war,      .  320 

Inside  of  their  houses  furnished  with  couches,      .         .  324 

Formerly  they  made  very  handiome  carpets,       .         .  325 

They  make  vety  beautiful  stone  pipes,    ....  327 

They  are  good  saddlers, 330 

They  mount  their  horses  on  the  off  side,      .         .         .  331 

Their  social  and  military  virtues 333 

They  ridicule  our  officers  for  their  ostentation,  336 

Their  opinion  of  law 337 

Of  our  physicians,         ......  342 

they  desire  to  be  acquainted  with  our  theology,    .         .  343 

The  conclusion, 356 


195 
199 
209 
214 
216 
312 
236 
251 
id. 
263 
266 
267 
268 
275 
ib. 
.  277 
281 
282 
283 
286 
298 
303 
304 
311 
317 
320 
.  324 
325 
.  327 
330 
331 
.  333 
336 
.  337 
342 
.  343 
356 


SELECTION 

OF  SOME  OF  THE  MOST 
INTERESTING 

NARRATIVES,  &c. 


INDIAN    BATTLE   OF    WYOMING, 

IN  1778. 

WYOMING,  (besides  being  a  frontier  settlement  dur- 
ing the  course  of  the  revolutionary  war ;  constantly  ex- 
posed to  the  inroads  of  the  savages ;)  had  furnished  two 
full  companies,  and  about  60  recruits  more  for  the  main 
army.  All  which  were  annexed  to  the  Connecticut  line, 
and  armed  themselves ;  amounting  in  the  whole  to  230 
men.  While  thus  weakened  and  unguarded,  they  were 
invaded  by  an  army  from  Niagara,  in  the  British  ser- 
vice, composed  of  regulars,  tories  and  Indians ;  of  which 
the  Indians  composed  the  greater  part. 

The  Indians,  in  the  spring,  began  to  be  troublesome. 
Their  numbers  were  frequently  augmented  by  the  ac- 
cession of  new  parties.  It  was  with  the  cattle,  hogs, 
and  other  plunder,  taken  from  the  inhabitants,  they  fur- 
nished themselves  with  provisions.  Some  of  the  in- 
habitants they  killed  and  captivated  others,  and  destroyed 
much  property.     At  length  they  became  formidable. 

The  inhabitants  had  erected  several  small  forts,  but 
their  principal  fortress  was  Forty  fort,  in  King;:  ton,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river,  a  small  distance  above  Wy- 


mn 


(6) 

oming  falls.  To  this  the  inhabitants  had  chiefly  resorted. 
They  had  sent  agents  to  the  continental  army  to  acquaint 
them  with  their  distressed  situation;  in  consequence 
whereof,  captain  Spaulding,  .with  about  60  or  70  men, 
was  dispatched  to  their  assistance.  The  detachment  was 
at  the  time  of  the  action  about  40  miles  distant.  The 
garrison  had  been  apprized  of  their  march  from  Lancas- 
ter, but  not  of  their  proximity. 

The  people  in  garrison  grew  uneasy,  under  the  insults 
of  the  invaders.  The  militia  were  formed  under  officers 
of  their  own,  and  the  whole  commanded  by  colonel 
Zebulon  Butler,  of  the  continental  army.  Col.  Denison 
of  the  militia,  was  second  in  command.  There  was  a 
fortification  about  three  miles  above  Forty  fort,  called 
Wintermot's  fort.  This  is  stated  to  have  been  in  the 
possession  of  tories,  that  is,  of  persons  inimical  to  the 
revolution,  and  attached  to  the  interests  of  Great  Britain. 
They  surrendered  at  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  with- 
out opposition,  and  gave  them  aid ;  some  of  them  enter- 
ing fully  into  their  interests.  Wintermot's  fort  instantly 
became  headquarters  of  the  expedition  from  Canada; 
this  was  commanded  by  colonel  John  Butler,  an  officer 
on  the  British  establishment,  commandant  of  a  party  of 
rangers.  The  second  in  command  was  col.  Brandt,  a 
natural  son  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  by  an  Indian  woman. 
Some  communications  by  flag,  had  taken  place  between 
the  hostile  parties,  previous  to  the  battle,  with  proposi- 
tions of  compromise.  The  Canadians  insisted  on  an  un- 
qualified submission  to  Great  Britain.  This  the  garrison 
peremptorily  refused,  and  nothing  was  effected.  The 
reciprocal  bearers  of  flags,  represented  the  army  of  the 
invaders  as  double  the  garrison  in  number,  and  still  more 
superior  in  the  quality  of  their  anns. 


« 


(7  ) 

It  was  debated  in  the  garrison,  whether  it  would  be  a 
point  of  prudence  to  hazard  a  sally.  An  officer  who  had 
been  at  the  enemy's  camp  with  a  flag,  opposed  it,  as  did 
also  col.  Denison,  and  several  others,  and  col.  Butler 
rather  declined  it,  but  among  others  who  were  in  favor 
of  it,  a  certain  captain,  (who  never  lived  to  lament  his 
temerity)  urged  it  with  so  much  vehemence,  that  the 
commandant  consented.  It  is  also  added,  that  a  Mr. 
Ingrasol,  then  in  the  garrison  with  a  flag  from  the  enemy, 
had  been  some  time  their  captive,  and  was  intimately 
acquainted  with  their  strength,  did  his  utmost  to  deter 
them  from  the  rash  attempt,  but  all  in  vain  ;  and,  that 
when  he  saw  them  turn  out  and  parade  could  no  longer 
refrain  from  tears. 

The  third  day  of  July,  in  the  year  1778,  was  the  fatal 
day  that  deluged  in  blood  the  plains  of  Wyoming!  The 
garrison  marched  off"  in  a  solid  column,  and  met  with 
no  material  obstruction,  till  they  reached  the  enemy's 
camp,  about  three  miles  above  Forty  fort.  Here  they 
had  the  Susquehanna  on  the  right,  and  a  thick  swamp 
on  the  left — and  perceiving  the  enemy  extended  from 
the  one  to  the  other,  ready  to  receive  them,  displayed 
column,  which  threw  them  in  a  similar  position.  Col. 
Zebulon  Butler  commanded  the  right,  and  was  opposed 
by  col.  John  Butler  on  the  enemy's  left.  Col.  Denison 
commanded  on  the  left,  and  was  opposed  by  col.  Brandt, 
on  the  enemy's  right.  The  action  commenced  at  about 
forty  rods  distance.  The  air  being  heavy,  the  smoke 
obstructed  their  sight.  And  after  the  first  discharge,  they 
could  only  direct  their  aim  by  the  flash  of  the  enemy's 
guns.  Little  execution  was  done,  till  after  several  dis- 
charges. Brandt  marched  a  party  into  the  swamp,  and 
flanked  the  militia.    The  enemy,  now  firing  from  under 


(8) 


cover  of  the  thicket,  greatly  annoyed  that  wing.  The 
militia  dropt  down  very  fust,  and  at  length  began  to 
give  way  one  after  another  in  rapid  succession,  till  the 
rout  became  general.  The  fugitives  were  closely  pur- 
sued by  the  Indians,  who,  besides  their  rifles  and  toma- 
hawks, were  provided  with  long  spears  which  they  throw 
with  great  dexterity  and  seldom  missed  their  object. 
The  practice  of  throwing  the  tomahawk  and  spear,  and 
taking  aim,  being  the  principal  exercise  to  which  an  In- 
dian warrior  is  trained. 

It  was  impossible  for  men  thus  flying  and  thus  pur- 
sued, to  rally,  nor  had  they  a  moment's  time,  even  to 
load  their  pieces,  while  death  was  close  upon  every  man's 
heel.  And  besides,  many  of  them  had  no  other  weapon 
but  a  rusty  musket.  Flight  was  their  only  hope,  smd 
the  Indians  being  most  accustomed  to  running,  if  they 
could  not  run  the  fastest,  could  however  out-wind  them. 
The  carnage,  at  once  became  general,  and  three  fourths 
of  the  militia  were  killed. 

According  to  the  account  of  some  who  were  present, 
the  number  that  sallied  out  were  500,  and  of  those  who 
escaped  the  scalping  knife  200.  Others  assert  that  the 
sortie  consisted  of  but  385,  and  those  which  escaped 
were  less  than  100.  The  probability  is,  that  between  the 
confusion,  carnage  and  panic  of  the  day,  the  accounts 
are  all  incorrect.  But  by  every  account,  about  300  able- 
bodied  men,  amounting  to  more  than  half  the  settlement 
were  slain  on  that  dismal  day.  A  memorable  day  of 
bitterness  and  lamentation  to  the  whole :  but  more  es- 
pecially so  to  the  widows,  mothers  and  orphans  of  the  de- 
ceased ;  who,  beside  the  pangs  of  grief  attached  to  their 
losses,  were  in  momentary  jeopardy  of  being  butchered 
themselves. 


I. 


♦I 


1 


(9) 

The  fugitives  fled  in  every  direction.  Some  saved 
themselves  by  fair  running — some  by  hiding  till  the 
darkness  covered  their  retreat;  and  many  by  swimming 
the  river,  &c.  Particular  details  of  all  individual  es- 
capes cannot  be  given,  nor  would  they,  perhaps,  be  en- 
tertaining, we  shall  therefore  exhibit  none.  Some  few  of 
the  enemy  were  killed  in  the  pursuit;  their  total  loss  was 
never  ascertained,  but  we  are  to  presume  it  was  small. 

Forty  fort  was  immediately  evacuated.  Some  few  of 
the  inhabitants  took  British  protections,  and  remained 
on  their  premises.  The  signal  for  a  house  under  pro- 
tection was  a  white  cloth  hung  up  near  the  door,  and 
for  a  man,  a  white  rag  round  the  crown  of  his  hat. 

Those  of  the  militia  who  escaped  from  the  battle,  has- 
tened toward  the  Delaware,  and  on  their  way  through 
the  swamp,  met  capt.  Spaulding's  detachment,  who,  on 
being  informed  of  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  and  deplo- 
rable condition  of  the  settlement,  judged  it  prudent  to 
turn  about,  and  retire  to  the  settlement  on  the  Delaware. 

The  road  through  the  swamp  was  thronged  with  wo- 
men and  children,  heavy  hearted  and  panic  struck ;  des- 
titute of  all  the  comforts  of  life,  traveling  day  and  night, 
and  in  continual  dread  of  the  tomahawk  and  scalping 
knife !  The  whole  country  and  all  the  property  in  it, 
was  abandoned  to  the  savages,  save  only  by  the  few  who 
had  taken  British  protections. 

About  three  weeks  after  the  battle,  the  scattered  mili- 
tia having  joined  Spaulding's  detachment,  three  young 
men  were  sent  into  Wyoming  to  reconoitre.  They  found 
the  plundering  parties  still  busily  employed,  and  but 
narrowly  escaped  them.  The  scouting  party  however, 
returned  safe  to  camp,  and  made  report.  About  three 
weeks  subsequent  to  this,  the  whole  party,  consisting  of 


(  10  ) 


both  regulars  and  militia,  amounting  to  near  200,  ad- 
vanced in  a  body  as  far  as  Tenmile-run.  Here  they 
formed  into  three  divisions,  one  of  which  proceeded  di- 
rectly to  Wilkesbarre,  and  began  to  erect  a  fort ;  one  filed 
of  by  the  right,  and  took  a  circuitous  rout  by  the  way  of 
Lackawanny,  to  the  same  place,  and  the  other  went  to 
Nanticoke  mills,  (where  the  ironworks  now  stand)  and 
thence  to  the  West- Branch,  under  command  of  Col. 
Hartley ;  and  from  thence  through  the  woods  to  Tioga 
point.  In  their  way  they  met  a  party  of  Indians  and 
killed  one  of  them,  without  sustaining  any  loss  them- 
selves. At  Tioga  and  Sheshequin  they  retook  about  40 
head  of  cattle  that  the  Indians  had  driven  off  from  the 
settlement.  The  Indians  who  had  the  care  of  them  fled 
without  firing  a  gun.  The  party  marched  all  night  with 
their  drove ;  while  rising  Wyalusing  hill  an  ambuscade 
of  Indians  fired  upon  them,  wounded  one  man  in  the  leg, 
and  a  ball  knocked  otf  the  breech  of  another  man's  gun ; 
they  sustained  no  other  injury.  Next  day,  near  Tusca- 
rora  Cre:k,  the  enemy  attacked  the  rear  guard  and  killed 
several  men;  one  Indian  was  killed,  and  whether  any 
more  is  unknow. .,  They  met  with  no  further  molesta- 
tion in  their  march. 

About  four  days  after  their  arrival  at  Wilkesbarre,  a 
party  of  Indians  came  into  the  settlement,  killed  three 
men ;  and  having  speared  a  fourth  in  nine  places  and 
scalped  him,  left  him  for  dead  al^o,  but  he  afterwards 
recovered.  The  fort  at  Wilkesbarre  was  completed  with 
all  possible  dispatch,  and  in  it  they  kept  garrison  till  the 
termination  of  the  war.  Besides  this  fort  they  had  block 
houses  in  various  places,  and  in  the  re-settlement  of  the 
country  the  inhabitants  built  their  habitations  in  little 
villas,  contiguous  to  these,  for  mutual  convenience  and 
safety,  they  being  frequently  harrassed  by  the  Indians. 


> 


( 11 ) 


I,  a 
ree 
id 
ds 
th 
le 
3k 
lie 
lie 
]d 
Is. 


On  the  20th  of  March,  1779,  the  Indians  came  upon 
them  300  strong  and  immediately  surrounded  their  fort. 
The  alarm  gun  was  fired,  and  the  people  flew  to  their 
block  houses;  some  few  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed, 
k^  some  of  their  Strong-holds  attacked,  but  none  were 
taken.  The  savages  collected  together  the  greater  part 
of  the  cattle  and  horses  in  the  neighborhood,  and  in  fair 
view  of  the  garrison  drove  them  away.  It  was  an  insult 
they  had  not  the  power  to  resent. 

The  first  settlement  ever  attempted  by  the  white  peo- 
ple, at  Wyoming,  was  in  1762.  They  met  with  no  dis- 
turbance that  year — but  on  the  15th  day  of  October, 
17<)3,  the  sly  and  subtle  Indians,  at  an  u.iexpected  mo- 
ment, made  a  vigorous  attack  on  them,  and  with  their 
usual  ferocity,  killed  near  20  of  them,  captivated  several 
and  the  rest  being  dispersed,  sought  an  asylum  for  the 
moment,  wherever  they  could  find  it,  and  escaped  as  fast 
as  possible  through  the  wilderness  to  their  former  homes. 

Their  houses  were  all  burnt;  corn  all  destroyed ;  horses 
and  cattle  .all  killed  or  driven  oft'.  Thus  perished  in  one 
day  a  flourishing  settlement,  after  a  rapid  progress  of 
two  summers.  Governor  Penn,  being  informed  of  the 
savage  incursion,  ordered  a  detachment  from  the  gar- 
rison at  Harrisburg  to  their  relief;  they  hastened  their 
march,  but  previous  to  their  arrival,  the  savages  had 
withdrawn  with  their  prisoners  and  plunder.  The  party, 
however,  arrived  soon  enough  to  witness  the  deplorable 
havoc!  they  found  the  bodies  of  the  slain  stript  naked, 
scalped,  and  lying  above  the  ground !  and  their  little 
mansions  all  in  ashes,  while  the  fire  that  devoured  them 
was  not  yet  extinguished. 

In  the  l)eginning  of  March  1780,  a  i)arty  of  twenty 
Indians  started  from  Niagara  for  Wyoming:  Their  object 


(  12  ) 


!  ! 


being  scalps  and  prisoners.  Some  of  them  could  speak 
English.  As  they  approached  the  settlement  they 
divided  into  two  parties,  ten  of  them  going  down  on 
each  side  of  the  river.  The  party  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river  took  three  prisoners,  viz.  Thomas  Bennet  and 
son,  and  A.  Hammond.  With  these  they  started  for 
Tioga,  the  place  of  rendezvouse  agreed  on  by  the  parties 
before  separation.  On  the  third  night  of  their  return 
they  kindled  a  fire,  took  supper  and  laid  down  to  sleep. 
One  Indian  kept  watch,  Bennet  pretended  to  be  in  some 
distress,  asked  the  Indian  to  untie  him  and  let  him  step 
aside.  It  was  accordingly  done,  Bennet  went  out,  and 
returned;  and  while  warming  himself  by  the  fire,  saw 
the  sentinel  get  to  sleep;  he  untied  his  comrades  and 
plunged  a  spear  into  the  Indian's  back  with  a  mortal 
blow.  The  Indian  gave  one  scream  and  sunk  into  ever- 
lasting silence.  This  aroused  the  whole  party,  they  all 
sprung  up,  leaving  their  guns  on  the  ground.  Bennet 
&  CO.  seized  their  guns,  kept  possession  of  the  fire  till 
the  morning  and  then  set  out  for  home,  where  they  all 
arrived  in  safety  with  the  arms  of  their  captor^i.  Whether 
this  party  killed  any  one  or  not  does  not  api)ear. 

The  party  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  on  the  28th 
and  29th  of  March,  killed  Asa  Upton,  and  three  Van- 
campens.  They  took  prisoners  Jonah  Rogers,  Peter 
Pence,  Moses  Vancampen  and  Abraham  Pyke.  They 
started  for  home,  and  the  third  night  arrived  at  Wysox, 
and  after  gorging  their  stomachs  with  broiled  venison 
fell  a  sleep.  The  prisoners  were  pinioned  jmd  their  guns 
set  up  against  a  tree.  Pyke  disengaged  himself,  and  re- 
moved the  guns  and  cut  loose  the  prisoners.  Rogers 
was  only  18  years  of  age  and  suff'ered  to  go  at  large  (he 
gave  me  these  details.)     By  Pyke's  orders  he  carried  an 


(  13  ) 

r^tiy^r^T'''     ^"  ^^^^-  ^'^^^J'  Vancampen  rose 

and  rf  off  "'  '"t"'  "^^'  ^'^  "^'^'  ^^^  ^^^  were  aroused 
and  ran  off  some  bemg  wounded  and  some  naked,  but 

only  one  of  the  ten  ever  returned  to  Niagara.  The  «elf 
rescued  prisoners  returned  l)ome  in  safety,  and  brou^^ht 
with  them  the  Indian's  guns  "^uu^ni 


An  Account  of  the  Battle  between  the  People  of  Wyoming, 
and  the  Indians,  m  the  year  1778;  in  which  two  hnuhed 
of  the  Americans  we^-e  unhappily  sacrificed  to  the  Savage 
barbarity  of  some  treacherous  Americans,  and  cruel  sav 

7attle  '''  "*  ^^  "  ^'''''''  ^^''"  ^'^**^^«^  '^^«'-  f^^e  field  of 

Kind  heaven  assist  the  tremljling  muse, 

While  she  attempts  to  tell ; 
Of  poor  Wyoming's  overthrow, 

By  savage  hands  that  fell. 

One  hundred  whites  in  painted  hue 

Whom  Butler  there  did  lead, 
Supported  by  a  barbarous  crew, 

Of  the  fierce  savage  breed : 

The  last  of  June  the  siege  began, 

And  several  days  it  held  ; 
While  many  a  brave  and  vjiliant  man. 

Lay  slaughtered  on  the  field. 

Our  troops  march'd  from  the  Forty  fort 

The  third  day  of  July, 
Three  hundred  strong,  they  marclied  aJon- 

Ihe  fate  of  war  to  try;  " 


ill 


!? 


(  14  ) 

But  ah  I  alas!  three  hundred  men, 

Is  much  too  small  a  band, 
To  meet  eight  hundred  men  complete, 

And  make  a  glorious  stand ; 

Four  miles  we  marched  from  the  fort; 

Our  enemies  to  meet, 
Too  far  indeed  did  Butler  lead. 

To  keep  a  f?afe  retreat. 

And  now  the  fatal  hour  is  come. 
They  bravely  charg'd  the  foe ; 

And  they  with  ire,  return'd  the  fire, 
Which  prov'd  our  overthrow. 

Some  minutes  they  sustain'd  the  fire, 

But  ere  they  were  aware; 
They  were  encompass'd  all  around. 

Which  prov'd  a  fatal  snare. 

And  now  they  did  attempt  to  fly. 

But  all  is  now  in  vain; 
The  little  host,  by  far  the  most. 

Was  by  these  Indians  slain. 

And  as  they  fly  for  quarters  cry. 
Oh  !  hear  indulgent  h^       n; 

Hard  to  relate,  the  droa  ■  .ate. 
No  quarters  must  be  given. 

With  bitter  cries,  an(  \  mournful  sighs, 
They  seek  for  some  retreat; 

Here  and  there,  they  know  not  where. 
Till  awful  death  they  meet. 


i 


(  15  ) 

There  piercing  cries  salute  the  skies, 

Mercy  is  all  their  cry; 
Our  souls  prepare  thy  grace  to  share, 

We  instantly  must  die. 

Some  men  were  found  a  flying  round. 

Sagacious  to  get  clear; 
In  vain  to  fly,  the  foe  so  nigh. 

The  front,  the  flank,  and  rear. 

And  now  the  foe  hath  won  the  day, 
^  Methinks  their  words  were  these,' 
You  cursed  rebel  Yanky  race, 
Will  this  your  Congress  plekse. 

Your  pardon's  o-^     .  you  then  shall  have, 
We  hold  th     -111  our  hands; 

We  all  agree  to  set  them  free. 
By  dashing  out  their  brains. 

And  as  for  you  enlisted  men. 
We'll  raise  your  honors  higlier; 

Pray  turn  your  eyes  where  you  m'ust  lie. 
In  yonder  burning  fire. 

The  naked  in  these  flames  were  cast, 

Too  dreadful 'tis  to  tell; 
Where  they  must  fry,  and  burn  and  die, 

W  hile  cursed  Indians  yell. 

No  age  nor  life  these  Tigers  spare, 

The  youth  and  hoary  head 
Were  by  those  monsters  murdered  there 

And  numbered  with  the  dead. 


(  16  ) 

Methinks  I  hear  some  sprightly  youth, 

His  awful  state  condole ; 
"  Oh !  that  my  tender  parents  knew 

The  agony  of  my  soul. 

"But  O!  these  cries  can't  spare  my  life, 

Or  heal  my  dreadful  fear; 
I  see  the  tomahawk  and  knife 

And  the  r>ore  glitt'ring  spear. 

"  Few  years  ago  I  dandled  was 

Upon  my  parent's  knee, 
I  little  thought  I  should  be  here 

In  this  sad  misery. 

"I  hoped  for  many  a  joyful  day; 

I  hop'd  for  riches  there ; 
Alas!  these  dreams  are  fled  away. 

And  I  shall  be  no  more. 

"  Farewell  my  friends,  oh !  that  I  was 

Freed  from  this  savage  race: 
Your  heart's  would  ache  and  nearly  break 

If  you  could  know  my  case. 

"  Farewell  indulgent  parents  dear, 

I  must  resign  my  breath ; 
I  now  must  die  and  here  must  lie 

In  the  cold  arms  of  death. 

"  But  O !  the  fatal  hour  is  come 

I  see  the  bloody  knife! 
The  Lord  have  mercy  on  my  soul 

I  yield  to  thee  my  life." 


i 


(17  ) 


A  FAITHFUL 


NARRATIVE, 


OF 


The  many  dangers  and  mfferings,  as  well  as  wondei'jul  de- 
liverances of  RoREHT  Eastburx,  during  his  late  cap- 
tivity among  the  Indians:  Together  loith  some  remarks 
upon  the  country  of  Canada,  and  the  religion  and  policy 
of  its  inhabitants ;  the  whole  intermixed  with  devout  re- 
flections.    Written  by  himself. 

ABOUT  thirty  tradesmen,  and  myself,  arrived  at  cap- 
tain William's  fort,  (at  the  Carrying- Place,)  in  our  way 
to  Oswego,  the  2()th  of  March,  175(1,  who  infornied  me 
that  he  was  like  to  be  cumbered  in  the  fort,  and  there- 
fore advised  us  to  take  the  Indian-House  for  our  lodging. 
About  ten  o'clock  next  day,  a  negro  man  came  running 
down  the  road,  and  reported  that  our  slaymen  were  all 
taken  by  the  enemy ;  captain  Williams  on  hearing  this, 
sent  a  serjeant,  and  about  twelve  men,  to  see  if  it  was 
true;  I  being  at  the  Indian-House,  and  not  thinking 
myself  safe  there,  in  case  of  an  attack  and  being  also 
willing  to  serve  my  king  and  country,  in  the  best  man- 
ner I  could  in  my  present  citcumstances,  asked  him  if 
he  would  tike  company?  He  rei)liod,  with  all  his  heart! 
Hereupon,  I  fell  into  the  rear,  with  my  arms,  and  marched 
after  them  ;  when  we  had  advanced  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile,  we  heard  a  shot,  followed  with  doleful  cries  of  a 


II  : '- 


(  18) 


dying  man,  which  excited  me  to  advance,  in  order  to 
discover  the  enemy,  whom  I  soon  perceived  were  pre- 
pared to  receive  us :  In  this  difficult  situation,  seeing  a 
large  pine  tree,  near,  I  repaired  to  it  for  shelter;  and 
while  the  enemy  were  viewing  our  party,  I  having  a  good 
chance  of  killing  two  at  a  shot,  quickly  discharged  at 
them,  but  could  not  certainly  know  what  execution  was 
done  till  some  time  after;  our  company  likewise  dis- 
charged, and  retreated.  Seeing  myself  in  danger  of  be- 
ing surrounded,  I  was  obliged  to  retreat  a  different  course, 
and  to  my  surprise,  fell  into  a  deep  mire,  which  the 
enemy,  by  following  my  track  in  a  light  snow,  soon  dis- 
covered, and  obliged  me  to  surrender,  to  prevent  a  cruel 
death.  They  stood  ready  to  drive  their  darts  into  my 
body,  in  case  I  refused  to  deliver  up  my  arms.  Pres- 
ently after  I  was  taken,  I  was  surrounded  by  a  great 
number,  who  stripped  me  of  my  clothing,  hat,  and  neck- 
cloth, so  that  I  had  nothing  left  but  a  flannel  vest,  with- 
out sleeves,  put  a  rope  on  my  neck,  bound  my  arms  fast 
behind  me,  put  a  long  band  round  my  body,  and  a  large 
pack  on  my  back,  struck  me  on  the  head  a  severe  blow, 
and  drove  me  through,  the  woods  before  them:  it  is  not 
easy  to  conceive,  how  distressing  such  a  condition  is! 
in  the  mean  time,  I  endeavoured  with  all  my  little  re- 
maining strength  to  lift  up  my  eyes  to  God  from  whom 
alone  I  could  with  reason  expect  relief. 

Seventeen  or  eighteen  prisoners,  were  soon  added  to 
our  number,  one  of  which  informed  me,  that  the  Indians 
were  angry  with  me,  and  reported  to  some  of  their  chiefs, 
that  I  had  fired  on  them,  wounded  one,  and  killed  an- 
other; for  which  he  doubted  they  would  kill  me.  Here- 
upon I  considered  that  the  hearts  of  all  men  are  in  the 
hand  of  God,  and  that  one  hair  of  our  head  cannot  fall  to 


(  19  ) 


)m 
to 

in- 
ire- 
Ihe 
Ito 


the  ground  without  his  permission :  I  had  not  as  yet 
learned  what  numbers  the  enemy's  parties  consisted  of: 
there  being  only  about  one  hundred  Indians  who  had 
lain  in  ambush  on  the  road,  to  kill  or  take  into  captivity 
all  that  passed  between  the  two  forts.  Here  an  inter- 
preter came  to  me,  to  enquire  what  strength  capt.  Wil- 
liams had  to  defend  the  fort?  after  a  short  pause,  I  gave 
such  a  discouraging  answer,  yet  consistent  with  truth,  as 
prevented  their  attacking  it,  and  in  consequence  the  ef- 
fusion of  much  blood;  a  gracious  Providence,  which  I 
desire  ever  to  retain  a  grateful  sense  of;  for  hereby  it 
evidently  appeared,  that  I  was  suffered  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  to  promote  the  good  of  my  coun- 
trymen, to  better  purpose  than  I  could,  by  continuing 
with  them;  veiily  the  Almighty  is  wise  in  counsel  and 
wonderful  in  working. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  enemy  determined  to  destroy 
Bull's  fort,  at  the  head  of  Wood  creek  which  they  soon 
effected,  all  being  put  to  the  sword,  except  five  persons, 
the  fort  burnt,  the  provision  and  powder  destroyed,  sav- 
ing only  a  little  for  their  own  use,  then  they  retired  to 
the  woods,  and  joined  their  main  body  which  inclusive, 
consisted  of  400  French,  and  800  Indians  commanded 
by  one  of  the  principal  gentlemen  of  Quebec;  as  soon 
as  they  got  together  (having  a  priest  with  them)  they  fell 
on  their  knees,  and  returned  thanks  for  their  victory ; 
an  example  this,  worthy  of  imitation !  an  example  which 
may  make  prophane  pretended  protestants  blush, if  they 
are  not  lost  to  all  sense  of  shame,  who  instead  of  ac- 
knowledging a  God,  or  Providence,  in  their  military  un- 
dertakings, are  continually  reproaching  him  with  oaths 
and  curses;  is  it  any  wonder  that  the  attempts  of  such, 
are  blasted  with  disappointment  and  disgrace? 


(  20) 


The  enemy  had  several  wounded  men,  both  French 
and  Indians  among  them,  which  they  carried  on  their 
backs;  besides  which,  about  fifteen  of  their  number 
were  killed,  and  of  us  about  forty;  It  being  by  this  time 
near  dark,  and  some  Indians  drunk,  they  only  marched 
about  four  miles  and  encamped ;  the  Indians  untied  my 
arms,  cut  hemlock  boughs,  and  strewed  round  the  fire, 
tied  my  band  to  two  trees,  with  my  back  on  the  green 
boughs  by  the  fire  covered  me  with  an  old  blanket,  and 
lay  down  across  my  band,  on  each  side,  to  prevent  my 
escape,  while  they  slept. 

Sunday  the  28th,  rose  early,  the  commander  ordered 
a  hasty  retreat  towards  Canada,  for  fear  of  general  John- 
son ;  in  the  mean  time  one  of  our  men  said,  he  under- 
stood the  French  and  Indians  designed  to  join  a  strong 
party,  and  fall  on  Oswego,  before  our  forces  there,  could 
get  any  provision  or  succor;  having,  as  they  thought, 
put  a  stop  to  our  relieving  them  for  a  time ;  when  we 
encamped  in  the  evening,  the  commanding  officer  or- 
dered the  Indians  to  bring  me  to  his  tent,  and  asked  me, 
by  an  interpreter,  if  I  thought  general  Johnson  would 
follow  them ;  I  told  him  I  judged  not,  but  rather  thought 
he  would  proceed  to  Oswego;  which  was  indeed  my 
sentiment,  grounded  upon  prior  information,  and  then 
expressed  to  prevent  the  execution  of  their  design.  He 
farther  enquired,  what  was  my  trade?  I  told  him  that 
of  a  smith  ;  he  then  persuaded  me  when  I  got  to  Canada, 
to  send  for  my  wife,  "  for  said  he,  you  can  can  get  a  rich 
living  there;"  but  when  he  saw  that  he  could  not  pre- 
vail, he  asked  no  more  questions,  but  commanded  me 
to  return  to  my  Indian  master;  having  this  opportunity 
of  conversation,  I  informed  the  general,  that  his  Indian 
warriors  had  stripped  me  of  my  clothing,  and  would  be 


(  21  ) 


ught 
my 
hen 
He 
that 
ada, 
rich 
pre- 
me 
nity 
iian 
dbe 


glad  he  would  be  good  enough  to  order  me  some  relief; 
to  which  he  replied,  that  I  would  get  clothes  when  I 
came  to  Canada,  which  was  cold  comfort  to  one  almost 
frozen.  On  my  return,  the  Indians  perceiving  that  I  was 
unwell,  and  could  not  eat  their  coarse  food,  ordered  some 
chocolate,  which  they  had  brought  from  the  Carrying 
Place,  to  be  boiled  for  me,  and  seeing  me  eat  that,  ap- 
peared pleased.  A  strong  guard  was  kept  every  niglit ; 
one  of  our  men  being  weakened  by  his  wounds,  and 
rendered  unable  to  keep  pace  with  them,  was  killed  and 
scalped  on  the  road! — I  was  all  this  time  almost  naked, 
travelling  through  deep  snow  and  wading  through  rivers 
cold  as  ice. 

After  seven  days  march,  we  arrived  at  Lake  Ontario, 
where  I  eat  some  horse  flesh,  which  tasted  very  agreeably, 
for  to  the  hungry  man,  as  Solomon  observes  ever}'^  bitter 
thing  is  sweet.-*^  The  French  carried  several  of  their 
wounded  men  all  the  way  upon  their  backs,  and  many 
of  them  wore  no  breeches  in  their  travels  in  this  cold 
season,  they  are  strong,  hardy  men.  The  Indians  had 
three  of  their  party  wounded,  which  they  likewise  carried 
on  their  l)acks;  I  wish  there  was  more  of  this  hardiness, 
so  necessary  for  war,  in  our  nation,  which  would  open  a 
more  encouraginer  scene  than  appears  at  present.     The 

*  On  the  Friday  l)eforo  we  arrived  at  the  hike,  the  Indians  killed 
a  Porcupine,  which  is  in  bigness  ei|ual  to  a  large  Racoon,  with  short 
legs,  is  covered  with  long  hair,  intermixed  with  sharp  quills,  which 
are  their  defence  :  it  is  iiuleed  dangerous  coming  very  near  iheni, 
because  they  cast  their  quills,  which  are  like  l)arbod  irons  or  darts, 
at  anything  that  opposeth  them,  which  when  they  pierce,  are  not 
easy  to  be  drawn  out  ;  for  though  their  points  are  sharp  and  smooth, 
they  have  a  kind  of  beard  which  makes  them  stick  fast :  ht)wever, 
the  Indians  threw  it  on  a  large  fire,  Iturnt  off  the  hair  and  quills, 
roasted  and  eat  it,  with  whom  I  had  a  part. 


(  22) 

prisoners  were  so  divided,  that  but  few  could  converse 
together  on  our  march,  and  which  was  still  more  dis- 
agreeable and  distressing,  an  Indian,  who  had  a  large 
bunch  of  green  scalps,  taken  off  our  men's  heads,  marched 
before  me,  and  another  with  a  sharp  spear  behind,  to 
drive  me  after  him;  by  which  means  the  scalps  were 
often  close  to  my  face,  and  as  we  marched,  they  fre- 
quently every  day  gave  the  dead  shout,  which  was  re- 
peated as  many  times  as  there  were  captives  and  scalps 
taken.  In  the  midst  of  this  gloomy  scene,  when  I  con- 
sidered, how  many  poor  souls  were  hurried  into  a  vast 
eternity,  with  doubts  of  their  unfitness  for  such  a  change, 
it  made  me  lament  and  expostulate  in  the  manner  follow- 
ing; O  sin  what  hast  thou  done!  what  desolation  and 
ruin  hast  thou  brought  into  this  miserable  world  ?  What 
am  I,  that  I  should  be  thus  spared  ?  My  afflictions  are 
certainly  far  less  than  my  sins  deserve !  Through  the 
exceeding  riches  of  divine  goodness  and  grace,  I  was  in 
this  distressing  situation  supported  and  comforted,  by 
these  passages  of  sacred  scripture,  viz.  That  our  light 
afflictions,  which  last  but  for  a  moment,  shall  work  for 
us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory. 
And  that,  though  no  afflictions  are  for  the  present  joyous, 
but  grievous ;  yet  nevertheless,  they  afterwards  yield  the 
peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness,  to  them  who  are  ex- 
ercised thereby.  And  farther,  that  all  things  shall  work 
together  for  good,  to  them  that  love  God  ;  to  them  who 
are  the  called,  according  to  his  purpose.  But  to  return, 
I  may,  with  justice  and  truth  observe,  that  our  enemies 
leave  no  stone  unturned  to  compass  our  ruin ;  they  pray, 
work,  and  travel  to  bring  it  about,  and  are  unwearied  in 
the  pursuit ;  while  many  among  us  sleep  in  a  storm,  that 
has  laid  a  good  part  of  our  country  desolate,  and  threatens 


(  23) 

the  whole  with  destruction :  O  may  the  Almighty  awake 
us,  cause  us  to  see  our  clan;;er,  before  it  be  too  late,  and 
grant  us  salvation !  O  that  we  may  be  of  good  courage, 
and  play  the  man,  for  our  people,  and  the  cities  of  our 
God !  But  alas,  I  am  obliged  to  turn  my  face  towards 
cold  Canada,  among  inveterate  enemies,  and  innumerable 
dangers!  0  Lord,  I  pray  thee,  be  my  safe  guard;  thou 
habt  already  covered  me  in  the  hollow  of  thy  hand; 
when  death  cast  darts  all  around  me  and  many  fell  on 
every  side,  I  beheld  thy  salvation ! 

April  4th,  several  French  battoes  met  us,  and  brought 
a  large  supply  of  provision  ;  the  sight  of  which  caused 
great  joy,  for  we  were  in  great  want;  then  a  place  was 
soon  erected  to  celebrate  mass  in,  which  being  ended,  we 
all  went  over  the  mouth  of  a  river,  where  it  empties  it- 
self into  the  east  end  of  lake  Ontario,  a  great  part  of  our 
company  set  off  on  foot  towards  Oswegotchy:  while  the 
rest  were  ordered  into  battoes,  and  carried  towards  the 
entrance  of  St.  Lawrence,  where  that  river  takes  its  be- 
ginning; but  by  reason  of  bad  weather,  wind,  rain,  and 
snow,  whereby  the  waters  of  the  lake  were  troubled,  we 
were  obliged  to  lie  by,  and  haul  our  battoes  on  shore ; 
here  I  lay  on  the  cold  shore  two  days.  Tuesday  set  off, 
and  entered  the  head  of  St.  Lawrence,  in  the  afternoon; 
came  to  late  at  night,  made  fires,  but  did  not  lie  down 
to  sleep ;  embarked  long  before  day,  and  after  some  miles 
progress  down  the  river,  we  saw  many  tires  on  our  right 
hand,  which  were  made  by  the  men  who  left  us,  and 
went  by  land,  with  them  we  staid  till  day,  and  then 
again  embarked  in  our  battoes,  the  weather  was  very 
bad,  it  snowed  fast  all  day,  near  night  arrived  at  Oswe- 
gotchy ;  I  was  almost  starved  to  death,  but  hoped  to  stay 
in  this  Indian  town  till  warm  weather;  slept  in  an  Indian 


(  24) 


/; 


wigwam,  rose  early  in  the  morning,  being  Thursday,  and 
soon  to  my  grief  discovered  my  disappointment.  Several 
of  the  prisoners  had  leave  to  tarry  here,  but  I  must  go 
two  hundred  miles  farther  down  stream,  to  another 
Indian  town  ;  the  morning  being  extremely  cold,  I  ap- 
plied to  a  French  merchant,  or  trader  for  some  old  rags 
of  clothing,  for  I  was  almost  naked,  but  to  no  purpose. 

About  ten  o'clock,  was  ordered  into  a  battoe,  on  our 
way  down  the  river,  with  eight  or  nine  Indians,  one  of 
which  was  the  man  wounded  in  the  skirmish  before 
mentioned ;  at  night  we  went  on  shore,  the  snow  being 
much  deeper  than  before,  we  cleared  it  away,  and  made 
a  large  fire;  here,  when  the  wounded  Indian  cast  his 
eyes  upon  me,  his  old  grudge  revived,  he  took  my  blanket 
from  me,  and  commanded  me  to  dance  round  the  fire 
barefoot,  and  sing  the  prisoners  song,  which  I  utterly 
refused ;  this  surprized  one  of  my  fellow  prisoners,  who 
told  me  they  would  put  me  to  death  (for  he  understood 
what  they  said)  he  therefore  tried  to  persuade  me  to  com- 
ply, but  I  desired  him  to  let  me  alone,  and  was  through 
great  mercy,  enabled  to  reject  his  importunity  witli  ab- 
horrence. The  Indian  also  continued  urging,  saying 
you  shall  dance  and  sing;  but  apprehending  my  com- 
pliance sinful,  I  determined  to  persist  in  declining  it  at 
all  adventures,  and  to  leave  the  issue  to  the  divine  dis- 
posal. The  Indian  perceiving  his  orders  disobeyed,  was 
fired  with  indignation,  and  endeavored  to  push  me  into 
the  fire,  which  I  leapt  over,  and  he  being  weak  with  his 
wounds,  and  not  being  assisted  by  any  of  his  brethren, 
was  obliged  to  desist :  For  this  gracious  interposure  of 
Providence,  in  preserving  me  both  from  sin  and  danger, 
I  desire  to  bless  God  while  I  live. 

Friday  morning,  was  almost  perished  with  cold.    Sat- 


(  25  ) 


who 
stood 
com- 
'ough 
1  ab- 
aying 
corn- 
it  ut 
dis- 
l,  was 
into 
1  his 
iren, 
re  of 
iiger, 

Sat- 


urday, proceeded  on  our  way,  and  soon  came  in  sight 
of  the  upper  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  Canada  ;  here  I 
was  in  great  hopes  of  some  relief,  not  knowing  the  man- 
ner of  the  Indians,  who  do  not  make  many  stops  among 
the  French,  in  their  return  from  war,  till  they  get  home: 
However  when  they  came  near  some  rapid  falls  of  water, 
one  of  my  fellow  prisoners,  and  several  Indians,  to- 
gether with  myself,  were  put  on  shore,  to  travel  by  land, 
which  pleased  me  well,  it  being  much  warmer  running 
on  the  snow,  than  lying  still  in  the  battoe ;  we  past  by 
several  French  houses,  but  stopt  at  none ;  the  vessel  go- 
ing down  a  rapid  stream,  it  required  haste  to  keep  pace 
with  her,  we  crossed  over  a  point  of  land,  and  found 
the  battoe  waiting  for  us,  as  near  the  shore  as  the  ice 
would  permit:  here  we  left  St.  Lawrence,  and  turned 
up  Conasadauga  river,*  but  it  being  frozen  up,  we 
hauled  our  battoo  on  shore,  and  each  of  us  took  our 

*  The  river  St.  Lawrence,  at  lake  Ontario,  takes  its  beginning 
through  several  Islands,  l)y  which  we  are  in  no  necessity  of  coming 
within  sight  of  Frontenac,  when  we  go  down  tlie  river;  it  is  smooth 
water  from  thence  to  Oswegotche  (or  as  it  is  called  l)y  the  French 
Legalet)  bnt  from  hence  to  Montreal,  the  water  is  more  swift,  with 
a  number  of  rapid  streams,  though  not  dangerous  to  pass  through 
with  small  boats  and  Jjark  canoes,  jjrovided  the  steersmen  are  care- 
ful, and  acqiuiinted  with  the  places;  in  transporting  provision  and 
warlike  stores  up  stream  from  Cainida  to  lake  Ontario,  there  is  a 
necessity  of  unloading  Itattoes  at  several  of  the  rapid  streams,  and 
hauling  them  empty  through  shoal  water  near  the  shore,  and  carry- 
ing the  loading  by  land  to  where  tiie  water  is  more  slack;  though  there 
be  several  of  those  places,  yet  the  laiitl  carriage  is  not  very  liir:  the 
land  on  both  sides  the  river,  appears  fertile  a  great  part  of  the  way 
from  the  lake  to  Montreal;  but  the  nearer  the  latter  the  worse,  more 
miry  and  stony;  the  timlter  is  white  pine,  ash,  inaiilc.  lieach,  hickory, 
hemlock,  spruce;  and  from  the  lake  altont  1  •">(>  miU's  down  plenty  ot 
white  oak,  but  none  about  Montreal  of  that  kind. 


\ 


(26) 

share  of  her  loading  on  our  backs,  and  marched  toward 
Conasadauga,  an  Indian  town,  which  was  our  designed 
port,  but  could  not  reach  it  that  night :  came  to  a  French 
house,  cold,  weary,  and  hungry;  here  my  old  friend,  the 
wounded  Indian,  again  appeared,  and  r(3lated  to  the 
Frenchman,  the  affair  of  my  refusing  to  dance,  who  im- 
mediately assisted  the  Indian  to  strip  me  of  my  flannel 
vest  before  mentioned,  which  was  my  all.  Now  they 
were  resolved  to  compel  me  to  dance  and  sing.  The 
Frenchman  was  as  violent  as  the  Indian,  in  promoting 
this  imposition;  but  the  women  belonging  to  the  house, 
seeing  the  rough  usage  I  had,  took  pity  on  me,  and  res- 
cued me  out  of  their  hands,  till  their  heat  was  over,  and 
prevailed  with  the  Indian  to  excuse  me  from  dancing ; 
but  he  insisted  that  I  must  be  shaved,  and  then  he 
would  let  me  alone  (I  had  at  that  time  a  long  beard, 
w^hich  the  Indians  hate)  with  this  motion  I  readily  com- 
plied, and  then  the  Indian  seemed  content. 

Sunday,  April  11th,  set  off  towards  Conasadauga, 
travelled  about  two  hours,  and  then  saw  the  town,  over 
a  great  river,  which  was  still  frozen ;  the  Indians  stojjped, 
and  we  were  soon  joined  with  a  number  of  our  own 
Company,  which  we  had  not  seen  for  several  days:  the 
prisoners,  in  number  eight,  were  ordered  to  lay  down 
our  packs,  and  be  [)ainted;  the  wounded  Indian  ])ainted 
me,  and  put  a  belt  of  wampum  around  my  neck,  instead 
of  the  rope  which  I  had  wore  400  miles.  Then  set  oft 
towards  the  town  on  the  ice,  which  was  four  miles  over; 
our  heads  were  not  allowed  to  be  covered,  lest  our  fine 
paint  should  be  hid,  the  weather  in  the  mean  time  very 
cold,  like  to  freeze  our  ears;  after  we  had  advanced 
nearer  to  the  town,  the  Indian  women  came  out  to  meet 
us,  and  relieved  their  husbands  of  their  packs. 


^        ; 


lauga, 
over 
)ped, 
own 
:  the 

tlown 
nted 
itead 
it  oft 
^ver ; 
line 
rery 
heed 
neet 


(  27  ) 

As  soon  as  we  landed  at  Conasadauga,  a  large  body 
of  Indians  came  and  encompassed  us  round,  and  or- 
dered the  prisoners  to  dance  and  sing  the  Prisoner's 
Song,  (which  I  was  still  enabled  to  decline)  at  the  con- 
clusion of  which,  the  Indians  gave  a  shout,  and  opened 
the  ring  to  let  us  run,  and  then  fell  on  us  with  their  fists, 
and  knocked  several  down ;  in  the  mean  time,  one  ran 
before  to  direct  us  to  an  Indian  house,  which  was  open, 
and  as  soon  as  we  got  in,  we  were  beat  no  more;  my 
head  was  sore  with  beating,  and  pained  me  several  days. 
The  squaws  were  kind  to  us,  gave  us  boiled  corn  and 
beans  to  eat,  and  fire  to  warm  us,  which  was  a  great 
mercy,  for  I  was  both  cold  and  hungry :  this  town  lies 
about  30  miles  north-west  from  Montreal;  I  staid  here 
till  the  ice  was  gone,  which  was  about  ten  days,  and  then 
was  sent  to  Cohnewago,  in  company  with  some  Indians, 
who  when  they  came  within  hearing,  gave  notice  by  their 
way  of  shouting,  that  they  had  a  prisoner,  on  which  the 
whole  town  rose  to  welcome  me,  which  was  the  more 
distressing,  as  there  was  no  other  prisoner  in  their  hands ; 
when  we  came  near  shore,  a  stout  Indian  took  hold  of 
me,  and  hauled  me  into  the  water,  which  was  knee  deep, 
and  very  cold:  As  soon  as  I  got  ashore,  the  Indians 
gathered  round  me,  and  ordered  me  to  dance  and  sing, 
now  when  I  was  stiff  with  cold  and  wet,  and  lying  long 
in  the  canoe ;  here  I  only  stamped  to  prepare  for  my 
race,  and  was  encompassed  with  about  500  Indians,  who 
danced  and  simg,  and  at  last  gave  a  shout,  and  opened 
the  circle;  about  150  young  lads  made  ready  to  pelt  me 
with  dirt  and  gravel  stones,  and  on  my  setting  ofV  gave 
me  a  stout  volley,  witliout  my  su tiering  great  liurt;  but 
an  Indian  seeing  me  run,  met  me,  and  held  me  fast,  till 
the  boys  had  stored  theniselves  again  with  dirt  and  small 


1/ 


(  28  ) 

stones,  and  let  me  run ;  but  then  I  fared  much  worse 
than  before,  for  a  small  stone  among  the  mud  hit  my 
right-eye,  and  my  head  and  face  were  so  covered  with 
the  dirt,  that  I  could  scarse  see  my  way ;  but  discovering 
a  door  of  an  Indian  house  standing  open,  I  run  in: 
From  this  retreat  I  was  soon  hauled,  in  order  to  be  pelted 
more;  but  the  Indian  women  being  more  merciful  inter- 
posed, took  me  into  a  house,  ])rought  me  water  to  wash, 
and  gave  me  boiled  corn  and  beans  to  eat.  The  next 
day,  I  was  brought  to  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  cried 
according  to  the  Indian  custom,  in  order  to  be  sent  to  a 
family  of  Indians,  200  miles  up  stream,  at  Oswegotchy, 
and  there  to  be  adopted,  and  abused  no  more :  To  this 
end,  I  was  delivered  to  three  young  men,  who  said  I  was 
their  brother,  and  set  forward  on  our  way  to  the  aforesaid 
town,  with  about  20  more  Indians,  but  by  reascn  of  bad 
weather,  we  were  obliged  to  encamp  on  a  cold,  stony 
shore,  three  days,  and  then  proceeded  on;  called  at 
Conasadauga,  staid  there  about  a  week,  in  which  time, 
I  went  and  viewed  four  houses,  at  a  distance  from  the 
town,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  each  other;  in 
which,  are  represented  in  large  paint  work,  the  sufferings 
of  our  Saviour,  with  design  to  draw  the  Indians  to  the 
Papist's  religion ;  the  work  is  curiously  done :  A  little 
farther  stand  three  houses  near  together,  on  the  top  of  a 
high  hill,  which  they  call  Mount  Calvary,  with  three 
large  crosses  before  them,  which  completes  the  whole 
representation:  To  all  these  houses,  the  priests  and 
Indians  repair,  in  performing  their  grand  processions, 
which  takes  up  much  time.* 

*  'i'he  paitis  the  Papists  take  to  projiagato  sucli  a  bloody  and  ab- 
surd religion  as  theirs,  is  truly  amazing  !  This  brings  to  my  remem- 
brance, the  following  discourse,  I  had  with  two  French  priests  in  my 


I 


ill 


nb- 

l"'y 


f 


;' 


(  29  ) 

Set  off  on  our  journey  for  Oswegotchy,  against  a  rapid 
stream,  and  being  long  in  it,  and  our  provision  growing 
short,  the  Indians  put  to  shore  a  little  before  night;  my 
lot  was  to  get  wood,  others  were  ordered  to  get  fires,  and 
some  to  hunt;  our  kettle  was  put  over  the  fire  with  some 
pounded  Indian  corn,  and  after  it  had  boiled  about  two 
hours,  my  oldest  Indinn  brother,  returned  with  a  she 
beaver,  big  with  young,  which  he  soon  cut  to  pieces,  and 
threw  into  the  kettle,  together  with  the  guts,  and  took 
the  four  young  beavers,  whole  as  they  came  out  of  the 
dam  and  put  them  likewise  into  the  kettle,  and  when  all 
was  well  boiled,  gave  each  one  of  us  a  large  dishful  of 
the  broth,  of  which  we  eat  freely,  and  then  part  of  the 
old  beaver,  the  tail  of  which  was  divided  equally  among 
us,  there  being  eight  at  our  fire;  the  four  young  beavers 
were  cut  in  the  middle,  and  each  of  us  got  half  of  a 
beaver:  I  watclied  an  opportunity  to  hide  my  share 
(having  satisfied  myself  belore  that  tender  dish  came  to 
hand)  which  if  they  had  seen,  would  have  much  dis- 
pleased them.  The  other  Indians  catched  young  musk 
rats,  run  a  stick  through  their  bodies,  nnd  roasted,  with- 
out being  skinned  or  gutted,  and  so  eat  them.      Next 

captivity  ;  one  of  them  asked  nie,  if  I  was  a  Catholic  ;  ajtjjreheud- 
iiig  he  meant  the  Homish  religion,  f  answered  no  ;  he  rei)lied,  no 
hon.  On  my  relating  the  above  to  a  fellow  jirisoner,  he  said  I  had 
answered  wrong,  because  by  the  word  Catholic,  he  meant  a  Christ- 
ian :  Some  time  atler,  I  was  again  asked  l)y  the  other  priest,  if  I 
was  a  Catholic,  I  answered  yes,  but  not  a  Roman  Catholic  ;  at  which 
he  smiled,  and  asked  if  I  was  n  Lutheran,  I  replied  no  ;  he  again 
inquired  whether  I  was  a  Calvanist,  1  told  him  I  was  :  to  which  he 
said,  with  warmth,  no  bmi !  no  hon  !  which  signilietli.  it  is  not  good  I 
it  is  not  good  !  O  !  may  the  zeal  of  Papists,  in  propagating  super- 
stition and  idolatry,  make  Protestants  asluuned  of  their  lukewanii- 
ness,  in  promoting  the  religion  of  the  bil)le  ! 


^\ 


(  30) 

morning  hastened  on  our  journey,  which  continued  sev- 
eral days,  till  we  came  near  Oswegotchy,  where  we  landed 
.about  three  miles  from  the  town  on  the  contrary  side  of 
the  river;  here  I  was  to  be  adopted,  my  father  and 
mother  that  I  had  never  seen  before  were  waiting,  and 
ordered  me  into  an  Indian  house,  where  we  were  directed 
to  sit  down  silent  for  a  considerable  time,  the  Indians 
appeared  very  sad,  and  my  mother  began  to  cry,  and 
continued  crying  aloud  for  some  time,  and  then  dried  up 
her  tears,  and  received  me  for  her  son,  and  took  me  over 
the  river  to  the  Indian  town ;  the  next  day  I  was  ordered 
to  go  to  mass  with  them,  but  I  refused  once  and  again 
yet  thoy  continued  their  importunity  several  days,  say- 
ing it  was  good  to  go  to  mass,  but  I  still  refused ;  and 
seeing  they  could  not  prevail  with  me  they  seemed  much 
displeased  with  their  new  son*.  I  was  then  sent  over 
the  river,  to  be  employed  in  hard  labour,  as  a  punish- 
ment for  not  going  to  mass,  and  not  allowed  a  sight  of, 
or  any  conversation  with  my  fellow  prisoners;  the  old 
Indian  man  that  I  was  ordered  to  work  with,  had  a  wife? 
and  some  children,  he  took  me  into  the  woods  with  him, 
and  made  signs  that  I  must  chop,  giving  me  an  axe,  the 
Indian  soon  saw  that  I  could  handle  the  axe:  Here  I 
tried  to  reconcile  m j'self  to  this  employ,  that  they  might 

*  When  I  was  at  Oswegotchy,  tlie  Indians  took  notice  that  I  fre- 
(jucntly  retired  alone,  and  supposing  I  had  some  ])ad  design,  threat- 
ened if  I  did  not  desist,  they  wouUl  tomahawk  me  ;  but  my  fellow 
prisoner,  who  understood  their  hmguage,  told  them  it  would  be  a 
pity  to  hurt  me  on  that  account,  for  I  oidy  went  into  a  private  place 
to  prey,  whicli  was  true;  The  Indians  rei)lif(l.  if  so,  it  was  good: 
but  V  >  ,.  ^Q*  sus',)ii  ions,  took  pains  by  watching  to  lind  out  how  the 
.-,a  /t\  .  .  nd  hen  they  satisfied  themselves,  seemed  jtleased,  and  did 
".'t  f  fer  t'  intcirupt  me  any  more,  which  was  a  great  mercy  ;  as  the 
<;n,|tuiry  w(^i)'d  !).a.ve  in  some  degree,  marred  my  converse  with  God. 


(31  ) 


fre- 
eat- 
low 
e  a 
ice 
lod  : 
the 
did 
the 
lod. 


have  no  occasion  against  me,  except  concerning  the  law 
of  my  God ;  the  old  man  began  to  appear  kind,  and  his 
wife  gave  me  milk  and  bread  when  we  came  home,  and 
when  she  got  fish,  gave  me  the  gills  to  eat,  out  of  real 
kindness;  but  perceiving  I  did  not  like  them,  gave  me 
my  own  choice,  and  behaved  lovingly !  Here  I  saw  that 
God  could  make  friends  of  cruel  enemies,  as  he  once 
turned  the  heart  of  angry  Esau  into  love  and  tenderness ; 
when  we  had  finished  our  fence,  which  had  employed 
us  about  a  week,  I  shewed  the  old  scjuaw  my  shirt 
(having  worn  it  from  the  time  I  was  first  taken  prisoner, 
which  was  about  seven  weeks)  all  in  rags,  dirt  and  lice ; 
she  said  it  was  not  good,  and  brought  me  a  new  one, 
with  ruffled  sleeves,  saying,  that  is  good,  which  I  thank- 
fully accepted.  The  next  day  they  carried  me  back  to 
the  Indian  town,  and  admitted  me  to  converse  with  my 
fellow  prisoners,  who  told  me  we  were  all  to  be  sent  to 
Montreal,  which  accordingly  came  to  pass. 

Montreal,  at  our  arrival  here,  we  had  our  lodging  first 
in  the  Jesuit's  Convent,  where  I  saw  a  great  number  of 
priests,  and  people  that  came  to  confession;  after  some 
stay,  we  were  ordered  to  attend,  with  the  Indians,  at  a 
grand  council,  held  before  the  head  General  Vaudriel; 
we  prisoners  sat  in  our  rank  (surrounded  with  our  fathers 
and  brethren)  but  were  asked  no  (juestions :  The  general 
had  a  number  of  officers  to  attend  him  in  council,  whi're 
a  noted  priest,  called  Picket,  sat  at  his  right  hand,  who 
understands  the  Indian  tongue  well,  and  does  more  hurt 
to  the  English,  than  any  other  of  his  order  in  C'anada, 
his  dwelling  is  at  Oswegotchy.  Here  I  was  informed 
that  some  measures  were  concerted  to  destroy  Oswego, 
which  they  had  been  long  preparing  to  execute;  we  in 
our  journey  met  many  battoes  going  up  stream,  with 


n 


(  32) 

provision  and  men  for  an  attack  on  our  frontiers,  which 
confirmed  the  report:  The  council  adjourned  to  another 
(lay,  and  then  broke  up.  My  Indian  father  and  mother 
took  me  with  them  to  several  of  their  old  acquaintance, 
who  were  French,  to  shew  them  their  lately  adopted 
son ;  these  persons  had  been  concerned  with  my  father 
and  other  Indians,  in  destroying  many  English  families 
in  their  younger  days;  and  (as  one  standing  by  who 
understood  their  language  said,)  were  boasting  of  their 
former  murders !  After  some  days  the  council  was  again 
called,  before  which,  several  of  the  Oneida  chiefs  ap- 
peared, and  offered  some  complaint  against  the  French's 
attacking  our  carrying  place,  it  being  their  land ;  but  the 
general  laboured  to  make  them  easy,  and  gave  them 
sundry  presents  of  value,  which  they  accepted*:  After 
which,  I  knowing  these  Indians  were  acquainted  with 
Captain  Williams  at  the  carrying  place,  sent  a  letter  by 
them,  to  let  my  family  and  friends  know  I  was  yet  alive, 
and  longed  for  redemption;  but  it  never  came  to  hand. 
The  treaty  being  ended,  the  general  sent  about  ten  gallons 
of  red  wide  to  the  Indians,  which  they  divided  among 
us ;  after  came  the  presents,  consisting  of  coat-',  blankets, 
shirts,  skins,  (to  make  Indian  shoes)  cloth  (to  make 

*  The  French  in  Cunadn,  well  knowing  the  great  importance  of 
having  the  Indians  in  their  interest,  to  promote  their  ambitious  and 
unjust  designs,  use  a  variety  of  methods  with  them,  among  which;  the 
following  one  is  excellent  in  itself,  and  well  worthy  of  imitation  vi/. 
They  are  exceedingly  careful  to  prevent  spirituous  liquors  being  sold 
to  the  Indians,  and  if  any  of  the  inhabitants  are  proved  guilty  of  it, 
their  teniporal  interest  is  quite  broke,  and  corporeal  punishment  in- 
flicted on  them  ;  unless  the  general,  on  some  particular  oci..ision, 
orders  his  commissioners  to  deliver  some  to  them.  I  may  add,  that 
knowing  their  inimber  is  small  compared  with  the  British  inhabitants 
on  this  continent,  nnd  must  (juickly  fall  into  their  hands,  in  case  we 


I-    I 


>ng 
ike 


^ 


(  33  > 

stockings)  powder,  lead,  shot,  and  to  each  a  bag  of  paint, 
for  their  own  use,  &c.  After  we  prisoners  had  our  share, 
my  mother  came  to  me  with  an  interpreter,  and  told  me 
I  might  stay  in  the  town,  at  a  place  she  had  found  for 
me,  if  I  pleased  (this  was  doubtless  the  consequence  of 
my  declining  to  obej  her  orders,  in  some  instances  that 
affected  my  conscience)  this  proposal  I  almost  agreed 
to;  but  one  of  my  fellow  prisori^^rs,  with  whom  I  had 
before  some  discourse,  about  making  our  escape  from 
the  Indian  town,  opposed  the  motion,  and  said,  'pray 
do  not  stay,  for  if  you  do,  we  shall  not  be  able  to  form 
a  plan  for  our  deliverance;'  on  which  I  told  her  I  chose 
to  go  home  with  her,  and  soon  set  off  by  land  in  our 
way  thither,  to  Lascheen.  distant  from  Montreal  about 
9  miles,  where  we  left  our  canoes,  and  then  proceeded, 
without  delay,  on  our  journey;  in  which  I  saw  to  my 
sorrow,  great  numbers  of  soldiers,  and  much  provision, 
in  motion  towards  lake  Ontario. 

After  a  painful  and  distrei^sing  journey,  we  arrived  at 
Oswegotchy,  where  we  likewise  saw  many  battoes,  with 
provision  and  soldiers,  daily  passing  by  in  tlieir  way  to 
Frontenac  which  greatly  distressed  me  for  Oswego! 
Hence  I  resolved,  if  possible,  to  give  our  people  notice 

united,  and  entered  boldly  into  the  heart  of  their  country  with  a 
sufHeient  force ;  tor  that  very  reason,  they  choose  to  keep  us  con- 
tijuially  on  the  det'ensive,  by  sending  when  occasion  reiiuircs,  large 
l)odies  of  regulars,  together  with  great  ninnl)ers  of  Indians,  upon 
long  and  tedious  marches,  that  we  nuvy  not  come  near  their  borders  ; 
and  especially  by  employing  the  latter,  constantly  t()  waste  and  ravage 
our  Frontiers,  by  which  we  are  murdered  by  inches,  and  beat  without 
a  battle.  By  what  I  could  learn  when  I  was  among  them,  they  do 
not  fear  our  numbers,  because  of  our  unha|tpy  divisions,  which  they 
deride,  and  from  them,  strongly  expect  to  compier  us  entirely,  which 
may  a  gracious  God  in  mercy  j)revent ! 


1 


(  34  ) 


n 


\1 


m 


of  their  danger:  to  this  end,  I  told  two  of  my  fellow 
prisoners,  that  it  was  not  a  time  to  sleep,  and  asked  if 
they  would  go  with  me,  to  this  they  heartily  agreed ; 
but  we  had  no  provision,  were  closely  eyed  by  the  enemy, 
and  could  not  lay  up  a  stock  out  of  our  allowance:  how- 
ever, at  this  time,  Mr.  Picket  (before  mentioned)  had 
concluded  to  dig  a  large  trench  around  the  town;  I 
therefore  went  to  a  negro,  the  principal  manager  of  this 
work,  who  could  speak  English,  French  and  Indian  well, 
and  asked  him,  if  he  could  get  employ  for  two  others, 
and  myself,  which  he  soon  did;  for  which  we  were  to 
have  meat  and  wages.  Here  we  had  a  prospect  of  pro- 
curing provision  for  our  flight,  this,  I  in  some  time 
effected  for  myself,  and  then  asked  my  brethren  if  they 
were  ready,  who  replied  they  were  not  yet,  but  said,  Ann 
Bowman  our  fellow  prisoner,  had  brought  one  hundred 
and  thirty  dollars  from  Bull's  fort,  and  would  give  them 
all  they  had  need  of:  I  told  them  it  was  not  safe  to  dis- 
close such  a  secret  to  her,  but  they  blamed  me  for  my 
fears,  and  applied  to  her  for  provision,  letting  her  know 
our  intention,  who  immediately  informed  the  priest  of 
it;  on  which  we  were  apprehended,  the  Indians  apprised 
of  our  design,  and  a  court  called;  by  order  of  which, 
four  of  us  were  confined  under  a  strong  guard,  in  a  room 
within  the  fort,  for  several  days. 

From  hence,  another  and  myself  were  sent  to  Cohne- 
wago,  under  a  strong  guard  of  sixty  Indians  to  prevent 
my  plotting  any  more  against  the  French,  and  banish  all 
hope  of  my  escape;  however,  when  we  arrived  at  this 
place,  it  pleased  that  gracious  God  who  has  the  hearts  of  all 
creatures  in  his  hand,  to  incline  the  captain  of  the  guard 
to  shew  me  great  kindness,  in  giving  me  liberty  to  walk 
or  work  where  I  pleased,  within  any  small  distance;  on 


SI 


(  35  ) 


)m 


which  I  went  to  work  with  a  French  smith,  for  six  livres 
and  five  sous  per  week;  whicli  the  caj)tain  let  me  have 
to  myself,  and  farther  favoured  me  with  the  privilege  of 
lodging  at  his  mother's  house  an  English  woman,  named 
Mary  Harris,  taken  captive  when  a  child,  from  Dearfield 
in  New  England,  who  told  me  she  was  my  grand-mother, 
and  was  kind  ;  but  the  wages  being  small,  and  not  suf- 
ficient to  procure  such  clothing  as  I  was  in  want  of,  I 
proceeded  no  farther  with  the  French  smith,  but  went 
to  my  uncle  Peter,  and  told  him  I  wanted  clothes,  and 
that  it  would  bo  bettor  to  let  mo  go  to  Montreal,  and 
work  there,  where  I  could  clothe  myself  better,  than  by 
staying  with  him,  and  that  without  any  charge  to  him, 
who  after  some  reasoning  consented. 

Set  off  on  my  journey  to  Montreal,  and  on  my  enter- 
ing the  city  met  an  English  smith,  who  took  me  to  work 
with  him  ;  after  some  time,  we  settled  to  work  in  a  shop 
opposite  the  general's  door,  where  we  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  a  great  part  of  the  forces  of  Canada, 
both  soldiers  and  Indians  who  wore  commonly  brought 
there,  before  their  going  out  to  war;  and  likewise  all 
prisoners,  by  which  means  we  got  intelligence  how  our 
people  were  preparing  for  defence;  but  no  good  news 
from  Oswego,  which  made  me  fear,  knowing  that  great 
numbers  of  French  were  gone  against  it,  and  hearing  of 
but  few  to  defend  it.  Prayers  were  put  up  in  all  the 
churches  of  Canada,  and  great  processions  made,  in  order 
to  procure  success  to  their  arms,  against  poor  Oswego ; 
but  our  people  knew  little  of  their  danger,  till  it  was  too 
late;  certainly,  if  more  frequent  and  earnest  application 
both  in  private  and  in  public  was  made  to  the  God  of 
battle,  we  might  with  greater  pr()l)ability,  expect  success 
would  crown  our  military  attempts !    To  my  surprise. 


(  3(5  ) 


t 


I 

ic; 


H 


!|| 


the  dismal  news  came,  that  the  Krencli  had  taken  one 
of  tlu'  Oswego  forts;  in  a  few  hours,  in  confirmation  of 
this,  I  saw  the  Knglish  standards,  (the  mehmcholy  tro- 
phy of  victory)  and  the  French  rejoicing  at  our  down- 
fal,  and  mocking  us  j)oor  i»risoners  in  our  oxWv  and  ex- 
tremity, which   was  no  great  argumrnt  either  of   hu- 
manity, or  true  greatness  of  mind;  great  joy  appeared 
in  all  their  face-",  which  they  expressed  hy  loud  shouts, 
firing  of  cannon,  and  returning  thanks  in  their  churches; 
hut  our  faces  were  covered  with  shame,  and  our  hearts 
tilled  with  grief!     Soon   after,  I   saw  several  of  the  of- 
ficers brought  in  prisoners  in  small  parties,  and  the  sol- 
diers in  the  same  manner,  and  confined  within  the  walls, 
in  a  starving  condition,  in  order  to  make  them  work, 
which  some  co!n|>lied  with,  hut  others  bravely  refused; 
and  last  of  all  came  the  tradesmen,  among  whom  was 
my  son,  who   looking   round  saw  his   father,  who  he 
thought  had  long  been  dead  ;  this  joyful  sight  soefVected 
him,  that  he  wept! — nor  could  I,  in  seeing  my  s(m,  re- 
main unconcerned! — no;   the  tenderness  of  a  father's 
bowels  upon  so  extraordinary  an  occasion,  I  am  not 
able  to  exi)ress,  and  therefore  must  cover  it  with  a  veil 
of  silence! — Hut  he,  with  all  my  i'hiladelphia  frien<l8, 
being  guarded  by  soldiers,  with  fixed  bayonets,  we  could 
not  come  near  each  other,  the}'  were  s<!ntto  the  common 
pound ;  but  1  hastened  to  the  interpreter, to  try  if  I  could 
get  my  child  at  liberty,  which  was  soon  effected.     When 
we  had  the  happiness  of  an  interview,  he  gave  me  some 
information  of  the  state  of  our  family,  and  told  me,  as 
goon  as  the  news  was  sent  home,  that  I  was  killed,  or 
taken,  his  mother  was  not  allowed  any  more  support 
from  my  wages,  which  grieved  me  much,  and  added  to 
my  other  afUictions.  * 

*  bi  the  momi  time,  it  jjave  me  some  jileasiire,  in  tliis situation,  lo 


/     ''7     \ 
(     'it      ) 


iievs 
not 
veil 
In  (Is, 
)uld 
Inon 
.uld 
111  en 
bnie 
as 
or 
)ort 
to 

I,  10 


?i 


When  the  people  taken  jit  Onwego,  were  setting  out  on 
their  u'iiy  to  (iuebee,  I  nuule  Jipplicntion  lor  lil)erty  to  go 

fvi'  ail  cxiiicssion  of*  <'(|uiil  duly  iiiul  |hii(1<mi('(«  in  mv  hom'h  condiirt ; 
wlin,  tlioiijili  youiij^  in  years  (altoiit  17)  and  in  such  a  conf'ii.sjMl  stafo 
of  tilings,  iiad  taken  care  to  liriii^  with  tniich  lalior  and  t'atij^ur,  a 
lar);c  liiindU^  of  ('oiisidcrahh' value  tome,  it  l)ein^  clothing,  tVc.  whicli 
I  was  ill  ^nni  need  of;  lie  lik(;wise  saved  a  <|uaiitity  of  wanipnni, 
which  we  hroiij^ht  Iroiii  New  York,  and  alterwiiids  sohl  here,  for 
one  hundred  iiikI  lit'ly  livres.  He  travelled  with  me  part  of  the 
journey  towards  Oswejjo,  hut  not  heiii;;  so  far  on  his  way,  an  I  was 
when  taken,  he  did  not  then  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands,  hut  con- 
tinned  free  till  <  )swe^o  was  taken,  and  was  thenreniarkahly  delivered 
from  the  hands  of  the  Indians  in  the  following  manner,  fitleen  youn^ 
lads  were  dratted  out  to  he  delivered  to  them  (which  from  their  known 
custom,  it  is  reasoiiahle  to  conchide,  was  to  (ill  u|i  the  numh(>r  they 
had  lost  in  hattle)  ainon>?  which  lit;  was  one  :  this  harharoiis  desij^n, 
which  is  contrary  to  the  laws  of  war  aiiionj?  all  civilized  natioiiH,  the 
French  artfully  c()noeale<l,  under  the  pretext  of  sending  them  to 
work  in  the  hattoes;  hut  my  child  takinj^  iiotic(«,  that  all  that  won; 
ehosen  were  small  lads,  douhtcMl  their  real  intention  was  had,  and 
therefore  slijit  out  of  his  rank  and  coneeahMl  himself,  hy  which  means, 
under  (Jod,  In;  was  preserved  from  a  state  of  perpetual  captivity: 
his  place  heiiij^  fille<l  up  in  his  ahsenee,  th(!  other  unhappy  youths 
were  deliv(!n!d  nj)  a  sacrifice  to  the  Indian  enemy,  to  he;  instru(;ted 
in  popish  principles,  and  employed  in  iiiurderin)^  their  countrymen  ; 
yea,  perhaps  their  fathers  and  hri'thren,  ()  horriidc;  !  O  lamentahle  ! 
How  can  the  French  he  guilty  in  cold  hlood,  of  such  prodigious  in- 
iquity? JJesidcs  their  insatiai)le  thirst  of  empire  ;  doiihtless  the  par- 
dons they  get  from  tluMr  popi;,  and  their  priests,  «'mholden  tlnMii, 
which  hriiigs  to  my  mind,  what  1  saw  when  among  them  :  on  a  Sab- 
bath day,  perceiving  a  great  coneonrse  of  peo|)le  at  a  chapel,  huilt 
on  the  commons,  at  sonu^  distance  from  the  city,  I  went  to  see  what 
was  the  o(;casion,  and  found  a  kind  of  a  fair,  at  which  wen;  sold 
cakes,  wine,  hrandy,  »Vc.  I  likewise  saw  many  carts  and  chases  at- 
tending, the  cha|)el  doors  in  the  mean  time  open,  numhers  of  peo- 
ple going  in  and  out,  and  a  hoard  hanging  over  the  door,  on  which 
was  written  in  large  letters  INDLT.fiFNCK  Pr.FXAIlV,  or  FILL 
PARDON. 

a 


(  38) 


(i» 


with  them ;  but  the  interpreter  replied,  that  I  was  an  In- 
dian prisoner,  and  the  general  would  not  suffer  it,  till  the 
Indians  were  satisfied;  and  as  they  lived  two  hundred 
miles  from  Montreal,  it  could  not  be  done  at  that  time : 
finding  that  all  arguments,  farther  on  that  head,  would 
not  avail,  because  I  was  not  included  in  the  capitulation; 
I  told  the  interpreter,  my  son  must  go  and  leave  me!  in 
order  to  be  ready  at  Quebec  to  go  home  Avhen  the  Oswe- 
go people  went,  which  probably  would  be  soon;  he  re- 
plied, '  It  would  be  better  to  keep  him  with  me,  for  he 
'  might  be  a  mean  to  get  me  clear  much  sooner.' 

The  officers  belonging  to  Oswego,  would  gladly  have 
had  me  with  them,  but  found  it  impractical)le;  this  is 
an  instance  of  kindness  and  condescension,  for  which  I 
am  obliged.  Captain  Bradley,  gave  me  a  good  coat, 
vest  and  ohirt ;  and  a  young  gentlemen,  who  formerly 
lived  in  Philadeli)hia,  gave  four  pistoles  (his  name  is 
James  Stone,  he  was  doctor  at  Oswego).  These  generous 
expressions  of  kindness  and  humanity,  I  am  under  great 
obligations  to  remember  with  afiectionate  gratitude,  and 
if  ever  it  be  in  the  compass  of  my  power,  to  requite: 
this  money,  together  with  what  my  son  brought,  I  was 
in  hopes  would  go  far  towards  procuring  my  release, 
Irom  my  Indian  masters ;  but  seeing  a  number  of  pris- 
oners in  sore  distress,  among  whicli  were,  the  captains 
Grant  and  Shepherd,  and  about  seven  more  in  company, 
I  thought  it  my  duty  to  relieve  them,  and  commit  my 
release  to  the  disposal  of  Providence;  nor  was  this  suf- 
fered to  turn  to  my  disadvantage  in  the  issue,  for  my 
deliverance  was  brought  about  in  due  time,  in  another, 
and  unexpected  way.  This  cotnpimy  informed  nie  of 
their  intention  to  escape,  accordingly  I  gave  them  all 
the  help  in  my  power,  saw  them  clear  of  the  town,  on  a 


Hi' 


11  all 
on  a 


(  39  ) 

Saturday  evening  before  the  Gentries  were  set  at  the  gatea 
and  advised  them  not  to  part  from  each  other,  and  de- 
livered to  captain  Shepherd  two  pocket  compasses  ;  but 
they  contrary  to  this  counsel  parted,  and  saw  each  other 
no  more:  by  their  separating  captain  Grant  and  serjoant 
Xewel  were  deprived  of  the  benefit  of  a  compass :  the 
other  part  got  safe  to  fort  William  Henry,  as  I  was  in- 
formed by  Serjeant  Henry,  who  was  brought  in  prisoner, 
being  taken  in  a  battle,  when  gallant  indefatigable  cap- 
tain Rogers  made  a  brave  stand,  against  more  than  twice 
his  number.  But  I  have  not  heard  any  account  of  capt. 
Grant.  .Was  enabled  through  much  mercy,  to  continue 
communicating  Fome  relief  to  other  prisoners,  out  of  the 
wages  I  received  for  my  labour,  which  was  forty  livres 
per  month. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  winter,  coal  and  iron  were  so 
scarce,  that  I  was  hard  set  to  get  any  more  work ;  I  then 
offered  to  work  for  my  diet  and  lodging,  rather  than  be 
thrust  into  a  stinking  dungeon,  or  sent  among  the  In- 
dians :  The  interpreter  took  some  pains  (which  I  thank- 
fully acknowledge)  but  without  success ;  however,  as  I 
offered  to  work  without  wages,  a  Frenchmen  took  me 
and  my  son  in,  upon  these  terms,  till  a  better  birth  pre- 
sented; here  we  staid  one  week,  but  heard  of  no  other 
place,  then  he  offered  me  and  my  son,  80  livres  per 
^ month,  to  strike  and  blow  the  bellows,  which  I  did  for 
about  two  months,  and  then  was  discharged,  and  trav- 
elled about  from  place  to  place,  having  no  fixed  abode, 
and  was  obliged  to  lay  out  the  small  remains  of  my  cash, 
in  buying  a  little  victuals,  and  took  a  hay-loft  for  my 
lodgings;  I  tlien  made  my  case  known  to  the  kind  in- 
terpreter, and  requested  him  to  consider  of  some  means 
for  my  relief,  who  replied  he  would  ;  in  the  meantime. 


f.Jf 


i 


(40) 

as  I  was  taking  a  walk  in  the  city,  I  met  an  Indian  pris- 
oner, that  belonged  to  the  town  where  my  father  lived, 
who  reported,  that  a  great  part  of  the  Indians  there, 
were  just  come,  with  a  resolution  to  carry  me  back,  with 
them;  and  knowing  him  to  be  a  very  honest  fellow,  I 
believed  the  truth  of  it,  and  fled  from  the  town  to  be 
concealed  from  the  Indians ;  in  the  mean  while,  schemes 
were  formed  for  an  escape,  and  well  prosecuted :  The 
issue  of  which  was  fortunate.  General  Vaudriel  gave 
me  and  my  son,  liberty  under  his  hand  to  go  to  Quebec, 
and  work  there  at  our  pleasure,  without  confinement, 
as  prisoners  of  war,  by  which  means,  I  was  freed  from 
paying  my  ransom. 

The  commissary.  Monsieur  Partwe,  being  about  to  set 
off  for  (Quebec,  my  son  informed  me  that  I  must  come 
to  town  in  the  evening,  a  passage  being  provided  for  us  : 
I  waited  till  near  dark,  and  then  entered  the  town,  with 
great  care,  to  escape  the  Indians  who  kept  watch  for  me 
(and  had  done  so  for  some  time)  which  made  it  very 
difficult  and  dangerous  to  move;  however  as  they  had 
no  knowledge  of  my  son,  he  could  watch  their  motions, 
without  their  suspicion  (the  providence  of  God  is  a 
great  deep,  this  help  was  provided  for  my  extremity,  not 
only  beyond  my  expectation,  but  contrary  to  my  de- 
sign.) In  the  morning,  upon  seeing  an  Indian  set  to 
watch  for  me,  over  against  the  house  I  was  in,  I  (juickiy 
made  my  escape  through  the  back  part  of  the  house, 
over  some  high  ])ickets,  and  out  of  the  city,  to  the  river 
side  and  lied.  A  friend  knowing  my  scheme  for  de- 
liverance, kindly  assisted  me  to  conceal  myself:  The 
commissar}'  had  by  this  time  got  ready  for  his  voyage, 
of  which  my  son  giving  me  notice,  1  immediately,  with 
no  lingering  motion  repaired  to  the  boat,  was  received 


i!f 


(  41  ) 


very 

had 
lions, 

is*  a 
•,not 
'  de- 

.4  to 
Ickly 
Inise, 

river 
de- 

iThe 

•ith 
Ived 


on  board,  set  off  quite  undiscovered,  and  saw  tlie  In- 
dians no  more.  A  very  narrow  and  surprizinfj  escape, 
from  a  violent  death !  for  they  had  determined  to  kill 
me,  in  case  I  ever  attempted  to  leave  them,  which  lays 
me  under  the  stron^^est  obligations,  to  improve  a  life 
rescued  from  the  jaws  of  so  many  deaths,  to  the  honor 
of  my  gracious  benefactor.  Bui  to  return,  the  commis- 
sary uion  seeing  the  dismis^sion  I  had  from  the  general, 
treated  us  courteously  •'-. 

Arrived  at  Quebec,  May  1st,  The  honorable  Colonel 
Peter  Schuyler,  hearing  of  my  coming  there,  kindly  sent 
for  me,  and  after  encjuiries  about  my  welfare,  ikc,  gen- 
erously told  me  I  should  be  supplied,  and  need  not 
trouble  myself  for  support:  this  public  spirited  gentle- 
man, who  is  indeed  an  honour  to  his  country,  did  in 
like  manner  nol)ly  relieve  many  other  poor  prisoners  at 
(Quebec.  Here  I  had  full  liberty  to  walk  where  I  pleased 
and  view  the  city,  which  is  well  situated  for  strengtii, 
but  far  from  being  impregnable. 

Here  I  hope  it  will  not  be  judged  improper  to  give  a 
short  hint  of  the  French  governor's  conduct;  even  in 
time  of  peace,  he  gives  the  Indians  great  encouragement 
to  murder  and  captivate  the  poor  inhabitants  on  our 
frontiers;  an  honest,  good  man.  named  William  Ross, 

*  Saw  many  housos  and  villages  in  our  pass  along  the  river  St. 
Lawrence,  towards  the  metropolis  ;  and  hero  it  n\ay  be  with  justice 
observed,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Canada  in  gtitieral,  are  prineipally, 
if  not  wholly  settled  upon  rivers,  by  reason  that  their  back  lands  l)e- 
ing  tlat  and  swan)py,  are  therefore  unlit  to  bear  grain.  Their  wheat 
is  sown  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  because  the  winter  is  long,  and 
would  drown  it ;  they  seem  to  have  no  good  notion  of  making 
meadow,  so  far  as  I  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  ;  their  horned 
cattle  are  few  and  poor,  their  living  in  general  mean,  they  eat  but 
little  flesh,  nevertheless  they  are  strong  and  hardy. 


(  42) 


I 


!• 


was  taken  prisoner  twice  in  time  of  peace ;  when  he  was 
first  taken,  he  learned  a  little  of  the  French  tongue,  was 
after  some  time  redeemed  and  got  to  his  place  of  abode: 
yet  some  years  after,  he,  with  two  sons  was  again  taken 
and  brought  to  Quebec ;  the  governor  seeing  the  poor 
man  was  lame,  and  one  of  his  legs  smaller  than  the 
other,  reproved  the  Indians  for  not  killing;  liim,  nsking, 
'  what  they  brought  a  lame  man  there  for,  who  could  do 
'nothing  but  eat?  you  should,  said  he,  have  brought  his 
'scalp!'  However,  another  of  his  countrymen,  more 
merciful  than  his  excellency,  knowing  the  poor  prisoner 
to  be  a  quiet,  hard  working  man,  redeemed  him  from 
the  Indians ;  and  two  other  Frenchmen  bought  his  two 
sons.  Here  they  had  been  slaves  more  than  three  years, 
when  I  first  arrived  at  Quebec ;  this  account  I  had  from 
Mr.  Ross  himself,  who  farther  added,  that  the  governor 
gave  the  Indians  presents  to  encourage  them  to  proceed 
in  that  kind  of  work,  which  is  a  scandal  to  any  civilized 
nation,  and  what  many  Pagans  would  abhor.  Here  also 
I  saw  one  Mr.  Johnson,  who  was  taken  in  a  time  of 
peace,  with  his  wife  and  three  small  children  (his  wife 
was  big  with  child  of  a  fourth,  and  delivered  on  the  road 
to  Canada,  which  she  called  Captive)  all  which,  had 
been  prisoners  between  three  and  four  years,  several 
young  men,  and  his  wife's  sister,  were  likewise  taken 
captive  with  them,  and  made  slaves. 

Our  cartel  being  ready,  I  ol)tained  liberty  to  go  to 
England  in  her;  we  set  sail  the  28d  of  July  1757,  in  the 
morning,  and  discharged  our  pilot  about  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon;  after  which  we  neither  cnst  anchor  or 
lead,  till  we  got  clear  of  the  great  river  St.  Lawrence, 
from  which,  I  conclude,  the  navigntion  is  much  safer 
thin  the  French  have-  reported;  in  28  days  we  arrived  at 


go  to 

In  the 

^k  in 

>r  or 

rence, 

safer 

!(1  at 


(  43  ) 

Plymouth  which  occasioned  great  joy,  for  we  were  rag- 
ged, lousy,  sick,  and  in  a  manner  starved;  and  many  of 
the  prisoners,  who  in  all  were  about  three  hundred  in 
number,  were  sick  of  the  small-pox.  My  son  and  self, 
having  each  a  blanket  coat  which  we  bought  in  Canada 
to  keep  us  warm,  and  now  expecting  relief,  gave  them 
to  two  poor  sick  men,  almost  naked !  But  as  we  were 
not  allowed  to  go  on  shore,  but  removed  to  a  king's  ship, 
and  sent  to  Portsmouth,  where  we  were  still  confined  on 
board,  near  two  weeks,  and  then  removed  to  the  Mer- 
maid, to  be  sent  to  Boston ;  we  now  repented  our  well 
meant,  though  rash  charity,  in  giving  our  coals  away, 
as  we  were  not  to  get  any  more,  all  application  to  the 
captain  for  any  kind  of  covering  l)eing  in  vain,  our  joy 
was  turned  into  sorrow,  at  the  prospect  of  coming  on  a 
cold  coast,  in  the  beginning  of  winter,  almost  naked, 
which  was  not  a  little  increased,  by  a  near  view  of  our 
mother  country,  the  soil  and  comfort  of  which,  we  were 
not  suffered  to  touch  or  taste^\ 

*  On  l>oard  the  Mernuiid  man  of  war,  being  in  a  distressed  ooniii- 
tion,  and  hearing  little  from  the  mouths  of  many  of  my  countrymen, 
but  oaths  and  curses  (which  much  increased  my  affliction)  and  find- 
ing it  ditficult  to  get  a  retired  place,  I  crept  down  into  the  hold 
among  the  water  casks,  to  cry  to  God;  here  the  Lord  was  graciously 
pleased  to  meet  with  me,  and  give  me  a  sense  of  his  fatberly  ]ov(> 
and  care;  here  he  enabled  me,  blessed  be  his  name  for  ever,  to  look- 
back and  view  how  he  had  led  nic,  and  guarded  me,  with  a  watch- 
ful eye  and  strong  arm,  and  what  pains  he  had  taken  to  wean  me 
from  an  over-love  of  time  things,  und  make  me  content  that  he 
should  choose  for  me:  Here  I  was  eiuibled  to  see  his  great  good- 
ness in  all  my  disappointments,  and  tiuit  afHictions  were  not  evi- 
dences  of  God's  wrath,  but  the  contrary,  to  all  that  honestly  en- 
deavour to  seek  him  with  faith  and  love;  here  I  could  say,  God  is 
worthy  to  be  served,  loved,  and  obeyed,  thougli  it  be  attended  with 
many  miseries  in  this  world  I     What  I  have  here  mentioned,  so  far 


a 


!/ 


if 


i  I 


1 

I. 
I      t 


(44) 

September  ()th,  Set  sail  for  Boston,  with  a  fleet  in 
convoy,  at  which  we  arrived  on  the  7th  of  November, 
in  the  evening,  it  being  dark,  and  we  strangers,  and 
poor,  it  was  difficult  to  get  a  lodging  (I  had  no  shoes, 
and  but  pieces  of  stockings,  and  the  weather  in  the 
mean  time  very  coM  '  ve  were  indeed  directed  to  a  tav- 
ern, but  found  old  tiitertainment  there,  the  master  of 
the  house  seeing  a  ragged  and  lousy  company,  turned 
us  out  to  wander  in  the  dark;  he  was  suspicious  of  us, 
and  feared  we  came  from  Halifax,  where  the  small-pox 
then  was,  and  told  u«  ^^'^  -"i.-  rrdered  not  to  receive  such  as 
came  from  thence :  \Ve  'v  '^  *nel  o,  young  man  who  said 
he  could  find  a  lodging,  for  as,  but  still  detained  us  by 
asking  many  q'^^siionp-  or  which  f  told  him  we  were  in 
no  condition  to  answer,  ull  '»  "u.  .  to  a  proper  place, 
which  he  quickly  found,  wherp've  v.  .re  ised  w'ell;  but 
as  we  were  lousy  could  not  expect  beds.  The  next 
morning,  we  made  application  for  clothing;  Mr.  Erwing, 
son-in-law  to  the  late  general  Shirley,  gave  us  relief,  not 
only  in  respect  of  apparel,  but  also  three  dollars  per 
man,  to  bear  our  charges  to  Newport.  When  I  ]>ut  on 
fresh  clothes,  I  was  seized  with  a  cold  fit,  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  high  fever,  and  in  that  condition  obliged  to 
travel  on  foot,  as  far  as  Providence,  in  our  way  to  Rhode- 
Island  ( our  money  not  being  sufficient  to  hire  any  car- 
riage, and  find  us  what  was  needful  for  support: )  In 
this  journey,  I  was  exceedingly  distressed.  Our  com- 
forts in  this  life,  are  often  allayed  with  miseries,  which 
are  doubtless  great  mercies  when  suitably  improved;  at 
Newport,  met  with  Captain  Gibbs,  and  agreed  with  him 

as  I  know  my  heart,  is  neither  to  exalt  myself,  or  offend  any  one 
upon  earth,  ])nt  to  glorify  (lod,  for  his  goodness  and  faithfulness  to 
the  meanest  of  his  servants,  and  to  encourage  others  to  trust  in  him! 


i 

I 


(45  ) 


jne 

to 

im! 


for  our  passage  to  New- York,  where  we  arrived,  Novem- 
ber 21st,  met  with  many  friends,  who  expressed  much 
satisfaction  at  our  return,  and  treated  us  kindly  particu- 
larly Messrs.  Livingston,  and  Waldron. 

November  2Gth,  1757.  Arrived  at  Philadelphia,  to 
the  great  joy  of  all  my  friends,  and  particularly  of  my 
poor  afflicted  wife  and  family,  who  thought  thoy  should 
never  see  me  again,  till  we  met  beyond  the  grave;  being 
returned,  sick  and  weak  in  body,  and  empty  handed, 
not  having  any  thing  for  my  family's  and  my  own  sup- 
port, several  humane  and  generous  persons,  of  different 
denominations,  in  this  city,  without  any  application  of 
mine,  directly  or  indirectly  have  freely  given  seasonable 
relief;  for  which  may  God  grant  them  blei-sings  in  this 
world,  and  in  the  world  to  come  everlasting  life,  for 
Christ's  sake ! 

Now,  God  in  his  great  mercy,  hath  granted  me  a  tem- 
poral salvation,  and  what  is  a  thousand  times  better, 
he  hath  given  me  with  it,  a  soul  satisfying  evidence  of 
an  eternal  in  the  world  to  come. 

And  now,  what  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his 
benefits,  alas  I  am  nonplust !  O  that  saints  and  angels 
might  praise  thee,  for  I  am  not  worthy  to  take  thy  name 
into  my  mouth  any  more !  Yet  notwithstanding,  thou 
art  pleased  to  accept  poor  endeavours,  because  Jesus 
Christ  has  opened  the  door,  whereby  we  may  come  boldly 
to  the  Throne  of  thy  Grace,  praised  be  the  Lord  God 
Jehovah,  by  men  and  angels,  throughout  all  eternity. 

But  to  hasten  to  the  conclusion,  suffer  me  with  humil- 
ity and  sorrow  to  observe  that  our  enemies  (seem  to  make 
a  better  use  of  a  bad  religion  than  we  of  a  good  one; 
they  rise  up  long  before  day  in  winter  and  go  through 
the  snow  in  the  coldest  seasons,  to  perform  their  devo- 


n 


u 


(  46  ) 

tions  in  the  churches;  which  when  over,  they  return  to 
be  ready  for  their  work  as  soon  as  day  light  ai)pears. 
The  Indians  are  as  zealous  in  religion,  as  the  French, 
they  oblige  their  children  to  pray  morning  and  evening 
particularly  at  Conasadauga ;  are  punctual  in  perform- 
ing their  stated  acts  of  devotion  themselves,  are  still  and 
peaceable  in  their  own  families,  and  among  each  other 
as  neighbours. 

When  I  compared  our  manner  of  living  with  theirs, 
it  made  me  fear  that  the  righteous  and  jealous  God  who 
is  wont  to  make  judgment  begin  at  his  own  house  first, 
was  about  to  deliver  us  into  their  hands,  to  be  severely 
punished  for  our  departure  from  him,  how  long  has  he 
waited  for  our  return ! — O  that  we  may  therefore  turn 
to  him,  before  his  anger  break  out  into  a  flame,  and 
there  be  no  remedy  ! 

Our  case  appears  to  me  indeed  very  gloomy ;  notwith- 
standing our  enemies  are  inconsiderable  in  number, 
compared  with  us,  yet  they  are  united  as  one  man,  while 
we  may  be  justly  comi)ared  to  a  house  divided  against  itself, 
and  therefore  cannot  stand  long,  in  our  present  situation. 

May  almighty  God  graciously  incline  us  to  look  to 
him  for  deliverance,  to  repent  of  our  sins,  reform  our 
lives,  and  unite  in  the  vigorous  and  manly  use  of  all 
proper  means  to  this  end.    Amen. 


i^li 


(47  ) 


An  Account  of  the  Captivity  of  Richard  Bard,  Esquire,  late 
of  Franklin  County,  deceased,  with  his  wife  and  family  and 
others.  Collected  from  his  papa's  by  his  son  Archibald 
Bard. 

MY  father  Richard  Bard,  lived  in  York  County,  now 
Adams,  and  owned  the  mill  now  called  Marshall's  mill, 
in  what  is  called  Carroll's  tract,  where  in  the  morning 
of  the  18th  of  April,  1758,  his  house  was  invested  by  a 
party  of  nineteen  Indians.  They  were  discovered  by  a 
little  girl  called  Hannah  M' Bride,  who  was  at  the  door, 
and  on  seeing  them  screamed,  and  run  into  the  house. 
At  this  time,  there  were  in  the  house,  my  father,  mother, 
and  lieutenant  Thomas  Potter,  (brother  of  general  Potter) 
who  had  come  the  evening  before  (beinji:  a  full  cousin) 
together  with  a  child  of  about  6  months  old,  and  a  bound 
boy.  The  Indians  rushed  into  the  house  and  one  of 
them  with  a  large  cutlass  in  his  hand  made  a  blow  at 
Potter,  but  he  so  managed  it,  as  to  wrest  the  sword  from 
the  Indian,  and  return  the  blow,  which  would  have  i)ut 
an  end  to  his  existence,  had  not  the  point  struck  the 
cieling,  which  turned  the  sword  so  as  to  cut  the  Indian's 
hand.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Bard  (my  father)  laid 
hold  of  a  horseman's  pistol  that  hung  on  a  nail,  and 
snapped  it  at  the  breast  of  one  of  the  Indians,  but  there 
being  tow  in  the  pan  it  did  not  go  off;  at  this,  the  In- 
dians seeing  the  pistol,  ran  out  of  the  house.  By  this 
time  one  of  the  Indians  at  the  door  had  shot  at  Potter, 
but  the  ball  took  him  only  in  the  little  finger.  The  door 
was  now  shut,  and  secured  as  well  as  possible;  l)ut  find- 
ing the  Indians  to  be  very  numerous,  and  having  no 
powder  or  ball,  and  as  the  savages  might  easily  burn 


(48) 


\  if 


I 


',  I 


down  the  house  by  reason  of  the  thatched  roof,  and  the 
quantity  of  mill  wood  piled  at  the  back  of  the  buildinir, 
added  to  the  declarations  of  the  Indians,  that  they  would 
not  be  put  to  death,  determined  them  to  surrender;  on 
which  a  party  of  Indians  went  to  a  field  and  made 
prisoners  Samuel  Hunter  and  Daniel  M'Manimy.  A 
lad  of  the  name  of  William  White  coming  to  the  mill, 
was  also  made  prisoner.  Having  secured  the  prisoners, 
they  took  all  the  valuable  effects  out  of  the  house,  and 
set  fire  to  the  mill.  They  then  proceeded  towards  the 
mountain,  and  my  mother  enquiring  of  the  Indians  Avho 
had  care  of  her,  was  informed  that  they  were  of  the 
Delaware  nation.  At  the  distance  of  about  seventy  rods 
from  the  house,  contrary  to  all  their  promises  they  put 
to  death  Thomas  Potter,  and  having  proceeded  on  the 
mountain  about  three  or  four  miles,  one  of  the  Indians 
sunk  the  spear  of  his  tomahawk  into  the  breast  of  the 
small  child,  and  after  repeated  blows  scalped  it.  After 
crossing  the  mountain,  they  passed  the  house  of  Mr. 

Halbert  T and  seeing  him  out,  shot  at  him,  but 

without  effect.  Thence,  passing  late  in  the  evening, 
M'Cord's  old  fort,  they  encamped  about  half  a  mile  in 
the  gap.  The  second  day,  having  passed  into  the  Path 
Valley,  they  discovered  a  party  of  white  men  in  pursuit 
of  them;  on  which  they  ordered  the  prisoners  to  hasten, 
for  should  the  whites  come  up  with  them,  they  should 
be  all  tomahawked.  Having  been  thus  hurried,  they 
reached  the  top  of  the  Tuskarora  mountain,  and  all  had 
sat  down  to  rest,  when  an  Indian,  without  any  previous 
warning,  sunk  a  tomahawk  into  the  forehead  of  Samuel 
Hunter,  who  was  seated  by  my  father,  and  by  repeated 
blows  put  an  end  to  his  existence.  He  was  then  scalped, 
and  the  Indians  proceeding  on  their  journey,  encamped 


(  49  ) 


that  evening  some  miles  on  the  north  of  Sideling  Hill. 
The  next  day  they  marched  over  the  Alleghany  mount- 
ain, through  what  is  now  called  Blain's  gap.  On  the 
fifth  day  while  crossing  Stoncy  Creek,  the  wind  blew  a 
hat  of  my  father's  from  the  head  of  the  Indian  in  whose 
custody  he  was.  The  Indian  went  down  the  stream 
some  distance,  before  he  recovered  it.  In  the  mean 
time  my  father  had  passed  the  creek,  but  when  the  In- 
dian returned,  he  severely  beat  my  father  with  the  gun, 
and  almost  disabled  him  from  traveling  any  further. 
And  now  reflecting  that  he  could  not  possibly  travel 
much  further,  and  that  if  this  was  the  case,  he  would 
be  immediately  put  to  death,  he  determined  to  attempt 
his  escape  that  night.  Two  days  before  this,  the  half 
of  my  father's  head  was  painted  red.  This  denoted  that 
a  council  had  been  held,  and  that  an  equal  number 
were  for  putting  him  to  death  and  for  keeping  him  alive, 
and  that  another  council  was  to  have  taken  place  to  de- 
termine the  question.  Being  encamped,  my  parents, 
who  before  this  had  not  liberty  to  speak  to  one  another, 
were  permitted  to  assist  each  other  in  plucking  a  turkey, 
and  being  thus  engaged  the  design  of  escaping  was  com- 
municated to  my  mother.  After  some  of  the  Indians 
had  laid  down,  and  one  of  them  was  amusing  the  others, 
with  dressing  himself  with  a  gown  of  my  mother,  my 
father  was  called  to  go  for  water.  He  took  a  (juart  and 
emptying  it  of  what  water  it  contained,  stept  about  six 
rods  down  to  the  spring.  My  mother  perceiving  this, 
succeeded  so  well  in  confining  the  attention  of  the  In- 
dians to  the  gown,  that  my  father  had  got  about  one 
hundred  yards,  when  the  Indians  from  one  fire,  cried 
to  those  of  another,  your  man  is  <j<me.  They  ran  after 
him,  and  one  having  brought  back  the  (juart,  said,  here 


■  I 


(  50  ) 

18  the  <j(iart,  but  no  man.  They  spent  two  days  in  looking 
after  him,  while  the  prisoners  were  confined  in  the  camp ; 
but  after  an  unsuccessful  search,  they  proceeded  down 
the  stream  to  the  Alleghany  river,  thence  to  fort  Du- 
quesne,  now  fort  Pitt.  After  remaining  there  one  nigiit 
and  a  day  they  went  about  twenty  miles  down  the  Ohio, 
to  an  Indian  town,  on  entering  which  a  squaw  took  a 
cap  off  my  mother's  head,  and  with  many  others 
severely  beat  her.  Now  almost  exhausted  with  fatigue, 
she  requested  leave  to  remain  at  this  place,  but  was  told 
she  might,  if  she  preferred  l>eing  scalped,  to  proceeding. 
They  then  took  her  to  a  town  called  Cususkey.  On  ar- 
riving at  this  place,  Daniel  M'Manimy  was  detained 
outside  of  the  town,  but  my  mother,  the  two  boys  and 
girls,  were  taken  into  the  town,  at  the  same  time  having 
their  hair  pulled,  faces  scratched,  and  beaten  in  an  un- 
merciful manner.  Here  I  shall  extract  from  my  father's 
papers  the  manner  and  circumstances  of  M'Manimy's 
death.  This  account  appears  to  have  been  obtained 
from  my  mother,  shortly  after  her  return,  who  received 
it  from  those  who  had  been  eye  witnesses  of  the  tragical 
scene.  The  Indians  formed  themselves  into  a  circle, 
round  the  prisoner,  and  commenced  by  beating  him ; 
some  with  sticks,  and  some  with  tomahawks.  He  was 
then  tied  to  a  post  near  a  large  fire,  and  after  being  tor- 
tured sometime  with  burning  coals,  they  scalped  him, 
and  put  the  scalp  on  a  pole  to  V)leed  before  his  foce.  A 
gun  barrel  was  then  heated  red  hot,  and  passed  over 
his  body,  and  with  a  red  hot  bayonet  they  pierced  his 
body  with  many  repetitions.  In  this  manner  they  con- 
tinued torturing  him,  singing  and  shouting,  until  he  ex- 
pired. Shortly  after  this  my  mother  set  out  from  this 
place,  leaving  the  two  boys  and  girl,  whom  she  never 


i  \ 


(51  ) 


)r- 

n, 

A 
[er 
jus 

n- 
|x- 

is 
|er 


saw  again,  until  they  were  liberated.  She  was  now  dis- 
tressed ])eyond  measure;  going  she  knew  not  where, 
without  a  conoforter,  without  a  companion,  and  expect- 
j  to  share  the  fate  of  M'Manemy,  in  the  next  town  she 
would  reach.  In  this  distressed  situation  she  met  a  num- 
ber of  Indians,  among  whom  was  a  captive  woman. 
To  her,  my  mother  made  known  her  fears  on  which  she 
was  informed  that  her  life  was  not  in  danger,  for  that  belt 
of  wampum,  said  she,  about  your  neck,  is  a  certain  sign, 
that  you  are  intended  for  an  adopted  relation.  They 
soon  after,  arrived  at  a  town,  and  being  taken  into  the 
council  house,  two  squaws  entered  in  and  one  stept  up, 
and  struck  my  mother  on  the  side  of  the  head.  Per- 
ceiving that  the  other  was  about  to  follow  this  example, 
she  turned  her  head  and  received  a  second  blow.  The 
vrriors  were  highly  displeased,  such  acts  in  a  council 
use  being  contrary  to  usage.  Here  a  chief  took  my 
mother  by  the  hand,  and  delivered  her  to  tw  Indian 
men,  to  be  in  the  place  of  a  deceased  sister.  She  was 
put  in  charge  of  a  squaw  in  order  to  be  cleanly  clothed. 
She  had  remained  here,  with  her  adopted  friends  near 
a  month,  when  her  party  began  to  think  of  removing 
to  the  head  waters  of  Susquehanna  a  journey  of  about 
two  hundred  miles.  This  was  very  painful  to  my 
mother,  having  already  traveled  about  two  hundred 
miles  over  mountains  and  swamps  until  her  feet  and 
legs  were  extremely  swollen  and  sore.  1^'ortunately  on 
the  day  of  their  setting  out,  a  horse  was  given  to  her  by 
her  adopted  brother;  but  before  they  had  traveled  far, 
one  of  the  horses  in  company  died,  when  she  was  obliged 
to  surrender  hers  to  supply  its  place.  Alter  proceeding 
on  her  journey  some  miles,  they  were  met  by  a  number 
of  Indians,  one  of  whom  told  her  not  to  be  discouraged, 


(  52) 


::' 


m 


[ 


as  a  peace  was  about  to  take  place  shortly,  when  ^he 
would  have  leave  to  return  home.  To  this  information 
she  was  the  more  disposed  to  give  credit,  as  it  came 
from  one  who  was  a  chief  counsellor  in  the  Delaware 
nation,  with  whom  she  was  a  prisoner.  Having  arrived 
near  the  end  of  her  journey,  to  her  great  surprise,  she 
saw  a  captive  dead  by  the  ro  id  side,  having  been  toma- 
hawked and  scalped.  She  was  informed  that  he  had 
endeavored  to  escape  but  was  overtaken  at  this  place. 
On  arriving  at  the  place  of  destination,  having  in  all, 
travelled  near  five  hundred  miles,  the  fatigue  which 
she  had  underj;one  with  cold  and  hunger,  brought  on  a 
severe  fit  of  sickness  which  lasted  near  two  months.  In 
this  doleful  situation,  having  no  person  to  comfort,  or 
sympathize  with  her,  a  blanket  was  her  only  covering;, 
and  her  bed  was  the  cold  earth,  in  a  miserable  cabin; 
boiled  corn  was  her  only  food.  She  was  reduced  to  so 
weak  a  state  as  to  consider  herself  as  approaching  the 
verge  of  dissolution.  But  recovering  from  her  sickness 
she  met  with  a  woman  with  whom  she  had  been  for- 
merly acfjuainted.  This  woman  had  been  in  captivity 
some  years,  and  had  an  Indian  husband  by  whom  she 
had  one  child.  My  mother  reproved  her  for  this  Init  re- 
ceived for  answer,  that  before  she  had  consented,  they 
had  tied  her  to  a  stake  in  order  to  burn  her.  She  added, 
that  as  soon  as  their  captive  women  could  speak  the 
Indian  tongue,  they  were  obliged  to  marry  some  one  of 
them,  or  be  put  to  death.  This  information,  induced 
her  to  determine,  never  to  learn  the  Indian  language, 
and  she  adhered  to  this  determination  all  the  time  she 
remained  with  them,  from  the  day  of  her  cai)tivity  to 
that  of  her  releasement,  a  space  of  two  years  and  tive 
months.     She    was  treated   during   this   time,   by   her 


1^ 


1 " 


(  53  ) 

adopted  relations  with  much  kindness;  even  more  than 
she  had  reason  to  expect. 

I  shall  now  return  to  the  narration  of  facts  respecting 
my  father,  after  he  had  made  his  escape  from  the  Indians 
as  before  stated.  It  will  be  perceived  that  the  following 
verses  were  composed  by  Richard  Bard  shortly  before 
his  wife's  releasement,  and  were  not  intended  for  publi- 
cation, but  as  they  contain  the  most  correct  statement 
that  can  at  this  day  be  procured  on  the  subject,  it  has 
been  thought  proper  to  publish  them,  omitting  all  that 
has  a  relation  to  any  thing  previous  to  his  escape: 

Bare  six  score  miles  now  we  have  mark'd. 

But  fifty  doth  remain. 
Between  us  and  the  bloody  place. 

Where  standeth  fort  Duquane. 
At  three  rods  distance  from  a  run, 

Encamp'd  this  night  are  we. 
But  when  for  drink  they  do  me  send 

No  more  they  do  me  see. 

Alas !  for  me  to  go  'tis  hard 
^  Whilst  with  them  is  my  wife, 
Yet  'tis  the  way  that  God  ordained 
For  me  to  save  my  life. 

But  after  me  they  quickly  run 

Not  doubting  of  their  i)rize; 
But  God  turns  into  foolishness 

The  wisdom  of  the  wise. 

O  cruel  man !  in  vain  you  strive 

In  vain  you  follow  me. 
For  since  the  Lord  gainsaith  I  can 

No  longer  captive  be. 


(  54  ) 


SI 

I 

m 

ill 


%\ 


H 


.1 


God  the  device  can  disappoint 

Of  wicked  men  and  wise, 
So  to  perform  they  can't  always 

Their  cruel  enterprise. 

But  now  although  at  liberty 

Through  mercy  I  am  set, 
Yet  miserable  is  my  life 

For  want  of  food  to  eat. 

O  dreadful  sore  my  sufferings  were 

Which  force  me  to  depart 
Whilst  no  provisions  I  had  got 

My  life  for  to  support. 

O'er  hills  that's  high  and  swamps  that  deep, 

I  now  alone  must  go, 
Travelling  on  I  suffer  much 

From  briers  poison  do. 

Unto  a  hill,  I  now  arrive, 

About  four  miles  it's  broad. 
And  o'er  this  hill  the  snow  doth  lye 

Though  elsewhere  it  is  thaw'd. 

Much  laurel  is  upon  this  hill 

Its  leaves  are  fill'd  with  snow, 
So  I  upon  my  hands  and  knees 

Under  the  same  must  go. 

My  hands  thro'  this  excessive  cold 

Extremely  swelled  are 
Of  sutiVrings  I  in  this  place 

Abundantly  do  share. 


(  55  ) 

But  'tis  not  only  in  the  day 
That  hardships  do  abound, 

For  in  the  night  they  also  do 
Encompass  me  around. 

In  hollow  logs  or  'mongst  the  leaves 

At  night  is  mine  abode; 
No  better  lodgings  wet  or  dry 

Throughout  this  lonely  road. 

Three  days  I've  traveled  since  escape 
But  there  is  three  days  more 

In  which  I  have  for  to  lay  by 
My  foot's  so  very  sore. 

Amazingly  my  foot  is  swell'd 

With  heat  is  in  a  flame, 
And  though  I'm  in  this  desart  land 

Can't  walk  I  am  so  lame. 

Not  wholly  from  my  pained  foot 

That  causes  pain  to  me, 
For  by  not  having  food  to  eat 

My  woes  encreased  be. 

Almost  five  days  I  now  have  been 

Without  the  least  supply, 
Kxcoi)t  bark  buds,  wliich  I  did  pull 

As  I  did  j)ass  them  by. 

Tliough  I'm  not  able  now  to  walk 

1  crej)t  upon  my  knees. 
To  gather  herl)s  that  i  may  eat, 

My  stomach  to  ap})easo. 


mm 


mmti 


ii  I 


J 


f 


1 


(56  ) 

But  whilst  I'm  roving  thus  about, 

A  rattle  snake  at  speed,! 
I  view  a  running  unto  me, 

This  mercy  is  indeed. 

For  by  this  snake  I'm  supplied 

When  kill  the  same  I  do. 
How  timeously  this  mercy  came 

None  but  myself  can  know. 

This  rattle  snake  both  flesh  and  bone 

All  but  the  head  I  eat, 
And  though  'tis  now,  it  seem'd  to  me 

Exceeding  pleasant  meat. 

When  ripen'd  is  my  heeling  foot, 

Which  mightily  did  ake, 
I  with  a  thorne  did  pierce  the  same, 

And  thereby  ease  partake. 

But  least  my  foot  I  further  hurt 

My  breeches  tear  I  do, 
And  round  my  feet  I  do  them  tye. 

That  1  along  might  go. 

But  when  to  walk  I  do  attempt 

Gives  me  excessive  pain, 
Yet  1  must  travel  witli  sore  foot 

Or  die  and  here  remain. 

So  when  a  few  miles  I  did  go. 

Unto  a  hill  I  come 
Whilst  on  the  lofty  top  thereof 

1  thought  I  heard  a  drum  ; 


♦  ^ 


I 


f 


(57  ) 

And  judging?  people  near  to  be 

On  them  I  gave  a  call, 
But  sure  there  was  not  one  to  hear 

Being  weak,  conceit  was  all. 

Being  now  eight  days  since  I  escap'd 

Unto  a  river  came. 
Whilst  wading  it  I  sufTerod  much 

Being  so  very  lame. 

But  having  Juniatta  cross 'd 

I  to  a  mountain  came. 
With  cold  I  ne'er  was  so  distress'd 

As  I  was  on  the  same. 

For  in  a  night  that's  very  cold 

r  there  my  lodging  take, 
And  as  my  clothes  were  wholly  wet 

I  tremble  did  and  shake. 

Ary  hand  by  this  excessive  cold 

Is  so  benum'd  that  I 
Can't  move,  no,  not  a  single  joint, 

Were  it  a  world  to  buy. 

Then  I  although  the  night  was  dark 
Did  liomewards  march  away, 

I^east  I  should  perish  witii  the  cold 
Should  I  for  day  light  stay. 

But  on  my  journey  in  this  night 

With  joy  a  fire  I  see, 
This  was  the  strangest  providence 

That  ever  happened  me. 


»'' 


a 


!!> 


(58  ) 

For  when  I  by  tho  same  had  staid 

Until  the  light  appear 
I  see  a  road  just  at  my  hand 

Which  doth  my  spirits  cheer. 

If  I  had  not  beheld  this  fire 

This  Indian  path  I'd  cross'd 
And  then  from  all  appearance  I 

Forever  had  been  lost. 

Along  this  path  I  went  with  haste 

As  much  as  I  could  make, 
But  'twas  not  fast  that  I  could  go 

I  was  so  very  weak. 

Now  having  been  nine  days  and  nights 

In  a  most  starving  state 
Not  having  food  of  any  kind 

Except  four  snakes  to  eat. 

But  on  the  evening  of  this  day 

I  met  with  Indians  three 
Surprised  I  was  and  really  thought 

Tliem  enemies  to  be; 

But  they  i)roved  kind  and  brought  me  to 
A  ])lace  wliere  English  dwell, 

Fort  Littleton,  the  {)lace  by  me 
Was  known  exceeding  well. 

Tlie  time  since  first  I  captive  was 

This  is  tlie  fmirteenth  day. 
Five  with  the  Indians  and  nine  since 

From  til  em  I  ran  away. 


I 
t 

1 


(59) 

Thanks  to  the  Lord  who  did  provide 

Food  in  the  wilderness 
For  me,  as  much  as  did  preserve 

My  life  whilst  in  distress. 

Thanks  to  the  Lord  because  that  he 

In  desarts,  pathless  way, 
Directed  me  so  that  I  did 

At  no  time  go  astray. 

And  now  from  bondage  though  I'm  freed, 

Yet  she  that's  my  belov'd, 
Is  to  a  land  that's  far  remote, 

By  Indians  remov'd. 

Alas !  ahis !  for  my  poor  wife 
That's  gone  to  heathen  lands, 

There  to  obey  their  very  hard 
And  their  unjust  commands. 

By  thinking  on  your  misery 

Increased  is  my  wo; 
Yea  pained  is  my  aking  heart 

For  what  you  undergo. 

Were  all  things  of  tliis  spacious  globe 

Offered  to  ease  my  mind, 
Ahis!  all  would  abortive  prove 

Whilst  Ketty  is  confined. 

The  thoughts  of  you  my  loving  wife 

Knibittors  unto  me, 
Tiie  sweetest  coniforls  that  can  by 

A  world  produced  be. 


(  60) 


;i).      I 


I 


Oh  now  I  may  like  to  a  dove 

In  her  bewildered  state, 
Bemoan  the  loss  of  my  dear  wife, 

My  true  and  loving  mate. 
August  8th,  1760. 

Some  time  after  my  father's  return  home,  he  went  to 
fort  Pitt,  which  was  then  in  the  hands  of  the  English, 
and  a  number  of  Indians  being  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river,  about  to  form  a  treaty,  he  one  evening  went 
over,  to  make  enquiry  concerning  my  mother.  My 
father  observed  among  them  several  who  were  present 
when  he  was  taken  prisoner,  to  these  he  discovered  him- 
self But  they  professed  not  to  know  him,  on  which  he 
enquired  of  them,  if  they  did  not  recollect  having  been  at 
the  taking  of  nine  persons,  referring  them  to  the  time 
and  place.  They  then  acknowledged  it,  and  enquired 
of  him  how  he  got  home,  &c.,  after  which  he  made  en- 
quiry concerning  my  mother,  but  they  said  they  knew 
nothing  of  her,  but  promised  to  give  him  some  informa- 
tion by  the  time  of  his  return  the  next  day.  He  then 
returned  to  the  fort.  Shortly  after  this,  a  young  man, 
who  had  been  taken  by  the  Indians  when  a  child,  fol- 
lowed him,  and  advised  him  not  to  return,  for  that  when 
he  had  left  them  he  had  heard  them  say,  that  they 
never  had  a  stronger  desire  for  any  thing  than  to  have 
sunk  the  tomahawk  into  his  head,  and  that  they  had 
agreed  to  kill  him  on  his  return  next  day.  After  this 
man  had  requested  my  father  not  to  mention  any  thing 
of  his  having  been  with  him,  or  of  the  subject  of  their 
conversation,  he  returned  to  camp. 

I  may  here  state  that  from  tl)e  time  that  my  father 
was  t.aken  by  the  Indians,  until  my  mother  was  released 


'> 


(  61  ) 


i 


ler 
led 


he  did  little  else  than  wander  from  place  to  place  in 
quest  of  information  respecting  her,  and  after  he  was  in- 
formed where  she  was,  his  whole  mind  hent  upon  con- 
triving plans  for  her  redemption.  Desiring,  with  this 
view  to  go  again  to  Pittsburgh,  he  fell  in  with  a  brigade 
of  waggons  commanded  by  Mr.  Irvine.  With  them  he 
proceeded  as  far  as  Bedford,  but  finding  this  a  tedious 
way  of  travelling,  he  spoke  to  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  place  to  get  captain  White  E3'es,  who  commanded 
a  party  of  Indians,  to  promise  to  accompany  him  to 
Pittsburgh.  This  was  accordingly  done,  and  the  In- 
dians having  agreed  to  take  him  safe  to  Pitt,  my  father 
set  out  with  them,  having  a  horse  and  a  new  rifie.  They 
had  proceeded  but  about  two  miles,  when  an  Indian 
turned  oft'  the  road  and  took  up  a  scalp  which  that 
morning  had  been  taken  oft"  one  of  the  wagoners.  This 
alarmed  my  father  not  a  little ;  but  having  i)roceeded 
about  ten  miles  further,  the  Indians  again  turned  off'  the 
road,  and  brought  several  horses  and  a  keg  of  whiskey 
which  had  been  concealed.  Shortly  after  this,  the  In- 
dians began  to  drink  so  as  to  become  intoxicated. 
White  Eyes  then  signified  to  my  father  that  as  he  had 
ran  oft'  from  them,  he  would  then  shoot  him,  and  raised 
his  gun  to  take  aim ;  but  my  father  stepping  behind  a 
tree,  ran  round  it  while  the  Indian  followed.  This  for 
a  time  gave  great  amusement  to  the  Itystanders,  until  a 
young  Indian  ste[)t  up,  twisted  the  gun  out  of  the  hands 
of  White  Eyes,  and  hid  it  under  a  log.  Tiie  Indians 
became  considerably  intoxicated,  and  scattered,  leaving 
White  Eyes  with  my  father.  White  Eyes  then  made  at 
him  with  a  large  stick,  aiming  at  his  head,  but  my 
father  threw  up  his  arm,  and  received  so  severe  a  blow 
as  to  blacken  it  for  weeks.     At  this  time  an  Indian  of 


(  62) 


H 


1 


hi 


I      ( 


another  nation,  who  had  heen  sent  as  an  express  to 
Bedford,  came  hy.  Captain  White  Eyes  apply ed  to 
him  for  his  gun  to  shoot  my  father,  but  the  Indian  re- 
fused, as  they  were  about  making  peace,  and  the  killing 
of  my  father  would  bring  on  another  war,  (being  of  differ- 
ent nations,  they  were  obliged  to  speak  in  English.)  By 
this  time  my  father  finding  himself  in  a  desperate  situa- 
tion, resolved  at  all  events  to  attempt  an  escape;  he  said 
to  captain  White  Eyes  our  horses  are  going  away,  and 
went  towards  them,  expecting  every  minute  to  receive 
a  ball  in  his  back,  but  on  coming  up  to  his  horse  he  got 
on  him,  and  took  to  the  road;  he  had  gone  but  a  short 
distance  when  he  saw  the  Indian  sleeping  at  a  spring 
who  had  taken  the  gun  out  of  White  Eyes  hand,  and  I 
have  often  heard  him  say,  had  it  been  any  other  of  the 
Indians  he  would  have  shot  him.  Fearing  a  pursuit  he 
rode  as  fast  as  his  horse  could  go,  and  having  travelled 
all  night  he  got  to  Pittsburgh  the  next  morning  shortly 
after  sun  rise,  and  he  was  not  there  more  than  three 
hours,  until  the  Indians  were  in  after  him;  but  from  a 
fear  of  an  injury  being  done  my  mother,  in  killing  them, 
he  sui)prcst  his  anger,  and  past  the  matter  by.  From 
here  he  had  an  op})ortunity  of  writing  her  a  letter,  re- 
questing her  to  inform  her  adopted  friends,  that  if  they 
would  bring  her  in,  he  would  pay  them  forty  pounds. 
But  having  waited  for  an  answer  until  he  became  im- 
patient he  bargiiincd  with  an  Indian  to  go  and  f>tcal  her 
away.  But  the  night  before  he  was  to  start  he  declined 
going,  saying  tliat  he  would  be  killed  if  he  went.  In 
this  situation  he  resolved  at  all  hazards  to  go  himself 
and  bring  her;  for  which  purpose  he  set  out  and  went 
to  a  place  0!i  the  Susquehannah,  I  think  it  was  called 
Shamoken,  not  far  from  what  is  called  the  Big  Cherry- 


(  63  ) 


I 


trees.  From  here  he  set  out  on  an  Indian  path,  along 
which  he  had  travelled  until  evening  when  he  was  met 
by  a  party  of  Indians  who  were  bringing  in  my  mother ; 
the  Indians  passed  him  by  and  raised  the  war  halloo, 
my  mother  felt  distressed  at  their  situation,  and  my 
father  perceiving  the  Indians  not  to  be  in  a  good  humor, 
began  to  promise  them  their  pay  as  he  had  promised  by 
letter  when  they  would  come  to  Shamoken,  but  the  In- 
dians told  him  that  if  he  got  them  among  the  whites  he 
would  then  refuse  to  pay  them,  and  that  they  would 
then  have  no  redress;  finding  they  were  thus  apprehen- 
sive, he  told  them  to  keep  him  as  a  hostage  out  in  the 
woods  and  send  his  wife  into  town,  and  he  would  send 
an  order  for  the  money  to  be  paid  them,  and  that  if  it 
was  not  done  they  might  do  with  him  as  they  pleased. 
This  had  the  desired  efl'ect,  they  got  quite  good  humored 
and  brought  them  in,  on  doing  which  the  money  was 
paid  agreeable  to  promise.  Before  my  father  and  mother 
left  Shamoken  he  requested  an  Indian  who  had  been  an 
adopted  brother  of  my  mother,  if  ever  he  came  down 
amongst  the  white  people  to  call  and  see  him.  Accord- 
ingly, some  time  afterwards  the  Indian  paid  him  a  visit, 
he  living  then  about  ten  miles  from  Chambersburg.  The 
Indian  having  continued  for  some  time,  with  him,  went 
to  a  tavern  known  by  the  name  of  M'Cormack's,  and  there 
became  somewhat  intoxicated,  when  a  certain  Newgen, 
(since  executed  in  Carlisle  for  stealing  of  horses  )  having 
a  large  knife  in  his  hand  struck  it  into  the  Indian's  neck, 
edge  foremost,  designing  thereby  to  thrust  it  in  between 
the  bone  and  throat,  and  by  drawing  it  forward  to  cut 
his  throat,  but  in  part  he  missed  his  aim,  and  only  cut 
the  forepart  of  the  wind  pipe.  On  this  Newgen  had  to 
escape  from  justice;  otherwise  the  law  would  have  been 


^Ml«a 


II 


iji 


(64  ) 

put  in  force  against  him.  And  it  has  been  remarked 
that  ever  after  he  continued  to  progress  in  vice  until  his 
death.  A  physician  was  brought  to  attend  the  Indian, 
the  wound  was  sowed  up  and  he  continued  at  my  father's 
until  he  had  recovered ;  when  he  returned  to  his  own 
people  who  put  him  to  death,  on  the  pretext  of  his  hnv- 
ing  as  they  said  joined  the  white  people. 

In  August,  17G4,  (according  to  the  best  accounts  of 
the  time,)  my  father  and  family  from  fear  of  the  Tndims, 
having  moved  to  my  grandfather,  Thomas  Poe's,  about 
three  miles  from  his  own  place  he  took  a  black  girl  with 
him  to  his  own  place  to  make  some  hay,  and  being 
there  at  his  work,  a  dog  which  he  had  with  him  be^ran 
to  bark  and  run  towards  and  from  a  thicket  of  bushes. 
Observing  these  circumstances  he  became  alarmed  and 
taking  up  his  gun,  told  the  girl  to  run  to  the  house,  for 
he  believed  there  were  Indians  near.  So  they  made  to- 
wards the  house  and  had  not  been  there  more  than  an 
hour,  when  from  the  loft  of  the  house  they  saw  a  party 
commanded  by  capt.  Potter,  late  gen.  Potter,  in  pursuit 
of  a  party  of  Indians  who  had  that  morning  murdered 
a  school  master  of  the  name  of  Brown,  with  ten  small 
children,  and  scalped  and  left  for  dea<l  one  by  the  name 
of  Archibald  M'CuUough  who  recovered  and  was  living 
not  long  since.  It  was  remarkable  that  with  but  few 
exceptions  the  scholars  were  much  averse  to  going  to 
school  that  morning.  And  the  account  given  by  M'Cul- 
lough  is,  that  when  the  master  and  scholars  met  at  the 
school,  two  of  the  scholars  informed  him  that  on  their 
way  they  had  seen  Indians,  but  the  information  was 
not  attended  to  by  the  master,  who  ordered  them  to 
their  books,  soon  afterwards  two  old  Indians  and  a  boy 
rushed  up  to  the  door.    The  master  seeing  them  prayed 


them  only  to  take  his  life  and  spare  the  children ;  but 
unfeelingly  the  two  old  Indians  stood  at  the  door  whilst 
the  boy  entered  the  house  and  with  a  piece  of  wood 
made  in  the  form  of  an  Indian  mall,  killed  the  master 
and  scholars,  after  which  the  whole  of  them  were  scalped. 


Ito 


i 


Account  of  the  Murder  of  James  Watson  and  William 
M^Mullea,  given  in  a  letter  to  the  Editor. 

Sir, 
I  am  just  going  to  inform  you  of  a  striking  occurrence 
that  happened  to  James  Watson  and  his  brother  in-law 
William  M'Mullin,  during  one  of  the  wars  with  the  In- 
dians. James  Watson's  father  and  mother  with  four  or 
five  small  children,  took  their  passage  from  the  county 
Fermanagh  in  Ireland,  to  America  upwards  of  sixty 
years  ago.  And  it  being  the  Lord's  will  to  call  the  parents 
from  this  stage  of  life,  during  their  passage,  the  poor 
children  were  landed  at  Newcastle,  near  which  a  friend 
lived.  Here  they  stayed  some  time  until  they  were  taken 
away  by  their  uncle  James  Armstrong,  who  lived  in 
Cumberland  county,  East  Pennsboro'  township.  They 
lived  here  till  they  were  grown  up,  when  one  of  James 
Watson's  sisters  got  married  to  William  M'Mullin,  and 
lived  between  Conodoguinet  creek  and  the  Blue  Mount- 
nin  v'  ence  they  were  driven  to  a  fort  where  the  people 
Mthered  together  for  safety.  It  happened  one  day 
aui  illiam  M'Mullin  and  his  brother-in-law  James 
•Vai.  on,  went  to  their  house  to  see  how  things  went  on. 
While  they  were  in  the  barn,  one  Indian  made  his  ap- 
l)earance  at  the  back  side  of  the  barn.  So  on  seeing  him 
they  both  tool     ut  of  the  far  side  to  reach  the  fort,  but 


»piM 


I 


J' 


(  66  ) 

to  their  great  dismay,  they  had  not  run  far  till  seven  In- 
dians started  up  out  of  a  buckwheat  field,  and  then  the 
firing  began  on  both  sides.  M'Mullin,  was  shot,  and 
the  cock  shot  off  his  gun,  so  he  made  the  best  of  his 
way  into  a  thicket,  and  afterwards  could  not  be  found 
till  the  dead  body  was  discovered  by  its  smell,  when  they 
dug  a  grave  and  tumbled  him  in.  In  the  meantime  Wat- 
son had  shot  four  or  five  of  the  Indians,  but  poor  man,  on 
going  up  a  hill,  he  received  a  deadly  shot  in  the  shoulder, 
and  fell  a  victim  to  the  savages  who  tomahawked  and 
scalped  hini.  When  he  was  found  his  hands  were  full 
of  the  Indian's  hair.  He  had  been  often  heard  to  say, 
that  while  life  remained  in  him,  he  would  not  suffer 
himself  to  be  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  which  fell 
out  to  be  the  case.  The  Indians  were  so  loaded  with 
their  own  dead  that  they  were  not  able  to  carry  off  the 
gun  of  Watson.  FRANCIS  JOHNSON. 


^ 


II 


Account  of  the  trikim/  of  Freelan(l\i  Fort,  communicattd  by 
Daniel  Vincent,  one  of  the  unfortunate  prisoners  taken  and 
carried  to  Canada,,  at  that  time. 

In  the  year  1779,  the  continental  trooi)s  was  ordered 
from  fort  Muncey,  on  the  west  branch  of  Susc^uehannah 
to  join  general  John  Sullivan,  at  Wilkesbarre,  and  all 
the  inhabitants  evacuated  that  branch,  down  as  far  as 
fort  Freeland,  where  they  had  erected  a  stockade  by 
building  two  houses,  and  collected  about  thirty  men, 
and  forty-eight  women  and  children,  all  inhabitants  ot 
that  part;  the  men  began  to  be  careless,  expecting  that 
Sullivan's  army  had  drew  the  attention  of  the  Indians 


(  67  ) 


deivd 
inn  ah 

d  all 
I'ar  us 
le  by 

men, 

nts  ot 
that 

dians 


to  the  north  branch  and  on  the  21st  day  of  July,  six 
nien  out  in  a  field  adjoining  the  fort,  were  attacked  by 
about  twenty-four  warriors,  three  men  were  killed  two 
taken  prisoners,  and  one  made  his  escape  into  the  fort. 
This  caused  them  to  keep  more  close  for  a  few  days,  and 
on  the  27th  ten  men  left  the  fort  to  join  a  party  at  Boon's 
fort,  to  go  and  waylay  the  Indian  paths,  and  on  the 
night  of  the  same  day,  a  party  of  about  three  hundred 
Indians  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  tories  and  British, 
commanded  by  Captain   John  M'Donald,  surrounded 
the  fort  in  the  dead  of  the  night;  the  Indians  kept  a 
howling  like  wolves  all  night,  and  early  in  the  morning 
on  the  28th,  Mr.  James  Watts,  brother  of  General  Watts, 
went  out  to  see  if  the  wolves  had  been  amongst  the 
sheep,  and  when  about  ninety  yards  from  tiie  fort,  he 
was  seized  by  one  of  the  Montieures,  a  Seneca  chief, 
who  wished  to  make  a   prisoner   for  the  sake  of  in- 
formation.   Mr,  Watts  hallooed  for  help,  and  ahirmed  the 
garriscm,  and  at  that  instant  the  Indian  struck  his  toma- 
hawk into  Watts'  head  and  he  fell,  at  the  same  moment 
two  men  fired  from  the  fort,  one  of  wiiose  ball   went 
through  the  Indian  and  he  fell  also;  and  immediately 
the  Indian  yell  began  all  around  tlie  fort  and  the  Indians 
closed  in  as  nigh  as  they  dare,  and  began  a  heavy  fire  on 
the  fort,  the  British  and  tories  })araded  on  the  side  of  a 
liill  in  front  of  the  fort,  with  music  and  colours  Hying, 
advanced  toward  the  fort,  and  covered  themscjlves  be- 
hind some  old  buildings,  and  eonunenced  a  brisk  fire 
on  the  fort,  which  was  very  spirittMlly  returned  from  tiie 
fort.     The  woods  and  a  log  fence  ]>eing  close  to  tiie  North 
West  corner  of  the  fort,  the  Indians  crept  in  tlie  hrusii 
and  behind  the  fence,  so  close  as  to  shoot  many  l>ullet8 
through  tlie  port  lioles;   in  this  close  order  they  con- 


'1^ 


'it' 

r 


V 


\\\  t 


(  68  ) 

tinned  until  about  nine  o'clock,  when  tlie  firing  ceased, 
and  captain  John  M' Donald  hoisted  a  Hag,  and  marched 
toward  the  fort,  within  about  sixty  yards  in  front  of  the 
garrison,  when  he  was  met  by  one  of  the  men  from  the 
fort;  from  whom  he  demanded  a  surrender  of  the  fort 
immediately  or  every  man,  woman  and  child  should  be 
put  to  the  tomahawk,  when  the  fort  agreed  to  capitulate, 
being  but  nineteen  men,  and  two  killed;  all  the  men 
able  to  bear  arms  were  to  march  out  in  front  of  the  fort 
and  ground  their  arms  and  march  prisoners  to  Canada, 
under  a  guard  of  white  men,  and  not  to  be  treated  as 
Indian  prisoners,  and  all  the  women  and  children  to  go 
to  the  interior  parts  of  the  countrj^  wherever  they 
pleased  unmolested,  together  with  four  old  men  not  able 
to  bear  arms.  Immediately  after  the  fort  surrendered 
the  Indians  took  possession,  plundered  all  they  could 
get  and  set  tire  to  the  fort,  houses,  barns  and  mills,  and 
while  all  was  in  a  flame  a  party  of  thirty  volunteers, 
under  the  command  of  capt.  Hawkins  Boon,  a  very 
brave  olficer,  came  up  and  fired  on  the  Indians  and 
killed  one  on  the  spot  and  wounded  one  more,  the  In- 
dians retreated  a  small  distance  and  rallied  again,  and 
advanced,  the  volunteers  retreated  about  half  a  mile 
and  halted  a  tew  minutes  to  consult;  and  in  th(>  mean- 
time the  Indians  sp-ead  themselves  very  much  in  the 
woods,  and  j)ursue(l  until  they  came  up  with  them,at- 
temptid  to  surround  them,  and  before  they  di.«covercd 
the  Indian  Hanks  they  were  nearly  in  a  half  moon 
around  them,  and  killed  eleven  men,  cajjtain  Hoon  was 
among  the  slain.  Several  of  those  men  fell  with  their 
wounds,  and  were  scalped.  In  this  affray  three  Indians 
were  killed  and  five  wounded,  and  while  in  this  con- 
fusion two  of  the  prisoners  which  had  been  taken  in  the 


(69  ) 

fort  attempted  to  make  their  escape,  they  were  overtaken 
by  the  Indiana  and  tomahawked. 


Inoon 

WHS 

Itheir 

IliiUlH 
COli- 

i\  the 


. 


A  Narrative  of  the  Chptii'lti/  and  Sujfcrings  of  Bkn.iamin 
GiLHKRi'   and  his  famili/ ;   vho   were   surprised   hij   the 
Indians,  and  taken  from  their  farms,  on  the  frontiers  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  the  Spring  of  J7S0. 

Benjamin  (Till)ert,  son  of  Joseph  (lilbert,  was  born  at 
By  berry,  about  15  miles  from  the  city  of  Pliiladelphia, 
ill  tlie  year  1711,  and  received  his  education  among 
tlie  ]»eople  called  (Quakers. 

He  resided  at  or  nenr  the  place  of  his  nativity  for 
several  years;  during  which  time  of  residence  he  mar- 
ried, and  after  the  decease  of  his  first  wife,  he  accom- 
plished a  second  marriiigc  with  Elizabeth  Peart,  widow 
of  Ikyan  Peart,  and  continued  in  this  neiglil)ourliood 
until  the  year  1775,  when  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  a  form  situate  on  Mahoning  creek,  in  Penn  townshij), 
Northam])ton  county,  being  the  frontiers  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, not  far  from  where  fort  Allen  was  erected.  The  im- 
provements lie  carried  on  here  were  according  to  the 
usual  manner  of  new  settlements,  convenience  being 
principally  attended  to;  his  house  and  ])arn  being  of 
logs,  to  this  he  had  added  a  saw  mill  and  a  conunodious 
stone  grist-mill,  which  as  it  connnanded  the  (iountry 
for  a  considerable  distance,  condu(!ed  in  some  measure 
to  render  his  situation  comfortable. 

This  short  account  may  not  be  inipr()|)er,  in  order  to 
interest  our  feelings  in  the  relation  of  the  many  scenes 
of  a  miction  the  family  were  reduced  to,  when  snatched 


mum^ 


(l\ 


(  70  ) 

from  the  pleasing  enjoyment  of  the  necessaries  and  con- 
veniences of  life.     The  most  flattering  of  our  prospects* 
are  often   marked   with   disappointment,   expressively 
instructing  us  that  we  are  all  strangers  and  sojourners 
here,  as  were  our  forefathers. 

This  family  was  alarmed  on  the  25th  day  of  the  4th 
month,  17<S0,  about  sun-rise,  by  a  party  of  eleven 
Indians,  whose  appearance  struck  them  with  terror;  to 
attempt  an  escape  was  death  and  a  })ortion  of  distress 
not  easy  to  be  supported,  the  certain  attendant  on  the 
most  patient  and  .submissive  conduct.  The  Indians 
who  made  this  incursion,  were  of  different  tribes  or 
nations,  who  had  abandoned  their  country  on  the  ap- 
proach of  General  Sullivan's  army,  and  fled  within  com- 
mand of  the  Jiritish  forts  in  Canada,  promiscuously  set- 
tling within  their  neighbourhood,  and  according  to 
Indian  custom  of  carrying  on  war,  frequently  invading 
the  frontier  settlements,  taking  captive  the  weak  and 
defenceless. 

The  names  of  these  Indians,  with  their  respective 
tribes,  are  as  follows : 

1.  Rowland  Monteur,  1st  captain. 

2.  .John  Monteur,  second  in  command,  who  was  also 
stiled  captain:  These  two  were  Mohawks  descended  of 
a  French  women. 

IJ.  Samuel  Harris,  a  Cayuga  Indian. 

4.  John  Huston,  and  his  son  1  ^ 

r     I   u     ir     A       •  .Cayugas. 

5.  .lohn  Huston,  junr.  J       ■'    ^ 

(').  .loini  Fox,  of  the  Delaware  na'  n.  The  other  5 
were  Scneccas. 

At  this  place  they  made  captive  of  the  following  per- 
sons:— 

1.  Benjamin  Gilbert  aged  about  (59  years. 

2.  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  55 


(  71  ) 


he  other  5 


41 
1!) 
19 
16 
14 
12 

23 
11 
26 


3.  Joseph  Gilbert,  his  son, 

4.  Jesse  Gilbert,  another  son, 

5.  Sarah  Gilbert,  wife  to  Jesse, 
().  Rebecca  Gilbert,  a  daughter, 

7.  Abner  Gilbert,  a  son, 

8.  Elizabeth  Gilbert,  a  daughter, 

9.  Thomas  Peart,  son   of  Benjamin  1 
Gilbert's  wife,  j 

10.  Benjamin  Gilbert,  a  son  of  John  ) 
Gilbert  of  Philadelphia,  j 

11.  Andrew    Harrigar,    of    German  ) 
descent,  hired  by  Benjamin  Gilbert,       j 

12.  Abigail    Dodson,    (daughter    ofl 
Samuel  Dodson,  who  lived  on  a  farm  j  .  , 
near  one  mile  distant  from  the  mill) 
who  came  that  morning  with  a  grist. 

They  then  proceeded  to  Benjamin  Peart's  dwelling, 
about  a  half  a  mile  further,  and  brought  liimself  and 
family,  viz. 

lo.  Benjamin   Peart,  son  of    Benja- ) 
min  (Jilbert's  wife,  j 

14.  Elizabeth  P.n\rt,  his  wife,  20 

15.  Their  child  about  nine  months  old. 

The  prisoners  were  bound  with  cords  which  the  In- 
dians l)rought  with  them,  and  in  this  melaucholy  con- 
dition left  under  guard  for  the  s})ace  of  half  an  hour, 
during  which  time  the  rest  of  the  captors  employed 
themselves  in  plundering  the  house,  and  })acking  up 
such  goods  as  they  chose  to  carry  off,  until  they  had 
got  together  a  sufficit^nt  loading  for  three  horses  which 
they  took  besides  compelling  the  distressed  prisoners  to 
carry  part  of  their  plunder.  When  they  had  finished 
plundering,  they  began  tlieir  retreat,  two  of  their  num- 


(  72  ) 


,  i 


;   ' 


Phi 


Mi 


ber  being  detached  to  fire  the  buildings  which  they  did 
without  any  exception  of  those  belonging  to  the  un- 
happy sufferers;  thereby  aggravating  their  distresses, 
as  they  could  observe  the  flames,  and  the  falling  in 
of  the  roofs,  from  an  adjoining  eminence  called  Sum- 
mer Hill.  They  cast  a  mournful  look  towards  their 
dwellings,  but  were  not  permitted  to  stop,  until  they  had 
reached  the  further  side  of  the  hill,  where  the  party  sat 
down  to  make  a  short  repast ;  but  grief  prevented  the 
prisoners  from  sharing  with  them. 

The  Indians  speedily  put  forward  from  this  place ;  as 
they  apprehended  they  were  not  so  ftir  removed  from 
the  settlements  as  to  l)e  secure  from  pursuit.  Not  much 
further  was  a  large  hill  called  Mochunk,  which  tiiey 
fixed  upon  for  a  place  of  rendezvous ;  here  they  halted 
near  an  hour,  and  prepared  shoes  or  sandais,  which  they 
call  mockasons,  for  some  of  the  children.  (Considering 
themselves  in  some  degree  relieved  from  danger,  their 
fears  abated  so  that  they  could  enjoy  their  meal  at  leisure, 
which  they  ate  very  heartily.  At  their  removal  from 
this  hill,  they  told  the  prisoners  that  col.  Butler  was 
no  great  distance  from  them  in  the  woods,  and  that  they 
were  going  to  him. 

Near  the  foot  of  the  hill  flows  a  stream  of  water  called 
Mochunk  creek,  which  M-as  crossed,  and  the  second 
mountain  passed;  the  steep  anddillicult  ascent  of  which 
appeared  very  great  to  the  much  enfeebled  and  affrighted 
captives.  Tiiey  were  permitted  to  rest  themselves  for 
some  minutes,  and  then  pressed  onwards  to  the  Broad 
Mountain,  at  the  foot  of  which  runs  Nescnonnah  creek. 

Doubly  distressed  by  a  recollection  of  past  hapi)iness, 
and  a  dread  of  the  miseries  they  had  now  to  undergo, 
they  began  the  ascent  of  this  mountain  with  great  an- 


(  73  ) 


Mlid 
3  un- 

esses, 
njiin 
Sum- 
their 
y  had 
ty  sat 
d  the 

ce ;  as 
from 
much 
1  they 
haUod 
h  tliey 
^derhiK 

their 
eisiiro, 

from 
er  was 

they 

called 
second 
which 
ighted 
,'es  for 
Broad 
creek. 
[)ines8, 
[dergo, 
hit  an- 


guish both  of  mind  and  body,  Benjamin  Gilbert's  wife, 
dispirited  with  the  increasing  difficulties,  did  not  expect 
she  was  able  to  pass  this  mountain  on  foot;  but  being 
threatened  with  death  by  the  Indians  if  she  did  not  per- 
form it,  with  man}'  a  heavy  step  she  at  length  succeeded. 
The  liroad  Mountain  is  said  to  be  seven  miles  over  in 
this  i)lace,  and  about  ten  miles  distant  from  Benjamin 
Gilbert's  settlement.  Here  they  halted  an  hour,  and 
then  struck  into  the  Neskapeck  }»ath;  the  uneveness 
and  ruggedness  of  which,  rendered  it  exceedingly  toil- 
some, and  obliged  them  to  move  forward  slowly.  Quackac 
creek  runs  across  the  Neskapeck  path,  which  leads  over 
Pismire  hill.  At  this  last  place  they  stopped  to  refresh 
themselves,  and  then  pursued  their  march  along  the 
same  path  through  Moravian  PineSwiimp  to  Mahoniah 
mountain,  where  they  lodged,  being  the  first  nig^jt  of 
their  captivity. 

It  may  furnish  information  to  some,  to  mention  the 
method  the  Indians  generally  use  to  secure  their  pris- 
oners; they  cut  down  a  sapling  as  large  as  a  man's 
thigh,  and  therein  cut  notches,  in  which  they  fix  their 
legs,  and  over  this  they  place  a  pole,  crossing  the  pole 
on  each  side  with  stakes  drove  in  the  ground,  and  in 
the  crotches  of  the  stake  they  place  other  poles  or  riders, 
efi'i'ctually  confining  the  j)risoners  on  their  backs;  be- 
sides which,  they  put  a  strap  around  their  necks,  which 
they  fasten  to  a  tree;  in  this  manner  the  night  passed. 
Their  beds  were  hemlock  branches  strewed  on  the 
ground,  and  blankets  for  a  covering,  which  was  an  in- 
dulgence scarcely  to  have  been  expected  from  savages. 
It  may  reasonably  be  expected,  that  in  this  melancholy 
situation,  sleep  was  a  stranger  to  their  eye-lids. 


J!H,HWJ,.L"* 


(  74  ) 

Benjamin  Peart  having  fainted  in  the  evening,  occa- 
sioned by  the  sufferings  he  endured,  was  threatened  to 
be  tomahawked  by  Rowland  Monteur. 

2&h.  Early  this  morning  they  continued  their  route, 
near  the  waters  of  Teropin  Ponds.  The  Indianf^  thought 
it  most  eligible  to  separate  the  prisoners  in  companies 
of  two  by  two,  each  company  under  the  command  of  a 
particular  Indian,  spreading  them  to  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, in  order  to  render  a  pursuit  as  im})racticuble  as 
possible.  The  old  people,  overcome  with  fatigue,  could 
not  make  as  much  expedition  as  their  severe  task- 
masters thought  proper,  but  ftdled  in  their  journey,  and 
were  therefore  threatened  with  death,  by  the  Indian 
under  whose  direction  they  were  placed.  Thus  circum- 
stanced, they  resigned  themselves  to  their  unhappy  lot, 
with  as  much  fortitude  as  possible.  Towards  evening 
the  parties  again  met  and  encamped,  having  killed  a 
deer,  they  kindled  a  fire,  each  one  roasting  pieces  of  the 
tlesh  upon  sharpened  switches.  The  confinement  of 
the  captives  was  the  same  with  the  first  night,  but,  as 
they  were  by  this  time  more  resigned  to  the  event,  they 
were  not  altogether  deprived  of  sleep. 

27th.  After  breakfast  a  council  was  held  concerning 
the  division  of  the  prisoners,  which  being  settled,  they 
delivered  each  other  those  prisoners  who  fell  within 
tljeir  several  allotments,  giving  them  directions  to  attend 
to  the  particular  Indians  whose  property  they  became. 
In  this  day's  journey  they  passed  near  Fort  Wyoming, 
on  the  Eastern  J^ranch  of  Susquehanna,  about  forty 
miles  from  their  late  habitation.  The  Indians,  naturally 
timid,  were  jJarmed  as  they  approached  this  garrison, 
and  observed  great  caution,  not  suffering  any  noise,  but 
stepijed  on  the  stones  that  lay  in  the  path,  lest  any  foot- 


(75  ) 


time. 
Iiing, 
Vortv 
[ally 
[son, 
but 
foot- 


steps should  lead  to  a  discovery.  Not  far  from  thence 
is  a  considerable  stream  of  water,  emptying  itself  into 
Susquehannn,  which  they  crossed  with  great  difficulty, 
it  being  deep  and  ra|)id,  and  continued  here  this  niglit. 
Benjamin  Gilbert  being  bound  fast  with  cords,  under- 
went great  suffering. 

2Hth.  This  morning  the  prisoners  were  all  painted  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  among  the  Indians,  some  of  them 
with  red  and  black,  some  all  red,  and  some  with  black 
only  :  Those  whom  they  smut  with  black,  without  any 
other  colour,  are  not  considered  of  any  value,  and  are 
by  this  mark  generally  devoted  to  death:  Althoujih 
this  cruel  purpose  may  not  be  executed  immediately, 
they  are  seldom  preserved  to  reach  the  Indian  liandets 
(dive.  In  the  evening  they  came  to  Sus(iuehanna,  hav- 
ing had  a  painful  and  wearisome  journey  through  a  very 
stony  and  hilly  path.  Here  the  Indians  sought  dili- 
gently for  a  private  lodging-place,  that  they  ndght  be  as 
secure  as  possible  from  any  scouting-parties  of  the  white 
people.  It  is  unnecessary  to  make  further  mention  of 
their  manner  of  lodging,  as  it  still  remained  the  same. 

29//».  They  went  in  search  of  the  horses  which  had 
strayed  from  them  in  the  night,  and  after  some  time 
found  them.  They  then  kept  the  course  of  the  river, 
walking  along  its  side  with  difficulty.  In  the  afternoon 
they  came  to  a  place  where  the  Indians  had  directed 
four  negroes  to  wait  their  return,  having  left  them  some 
corn  for  a  subsistence:  These  negroes  had  es('aj)ed  from 
confinement,  and  were  on  their  way  to  Niagara,  when 
first  discovered  by  the  Indians;  being  challenged  by 
them,  answered  "they  were  for  the  king,"  upon  which 
they  immediately  received  them  into  protection. 


SSUj 


'I 


I 


'I 


!(|i 


(76) 

ZOth.  The  negroes  who  were  added  to  the  company 
the  day  before,  began  cruelly  to  domineer  and  tyrannize 
over  the  prisoners,  frequently  whipping  them  for  their 
sport,  and  treating  them  with  more  severity  than  ever 
the  Indians  themselves;  having  had  their  hearts  hard- 
ened by  the  meanneps  of  their  condition,  and  long  sub- 
jection to  slavery.  In  this  day's  journey  they  passed 
the  remains  of  th(>  Indian  town,  Wyaloosing.  The  lands 
round  these  ruins  have  a  remarkable  appearance  of  fer- 
tility. In  the  evening  they  made  a  lodgement  by  the 
side  of  a  large  Creek. 

Bth  Month  1st.  After  crossing  a  considerable  hill  in 
the  morninar,  they  came  to  a  place  where  two  Indians 
lay  dead.  A  party  of  Indians  had  taken  some  white 
people,  whom  they  were  carrying  off  prisoners,  they  rose 
upon  the  Indians  in  the  night,  killed  four  of  them,  and 
then  effected  their  escape.  The  women  were  sent  for- 
wards, and  the  men  prisoners  commanded  to  draw  near 
and  view  the  two  dead  bodies,  which  remained;  (the 
other  two  being  removed  )  they  staid  to  observe  them  a 
considerable  time,  and  were  then  ordered  to  a  place 
where  a  tree  was  blown  down.  Death  appeared  to  l)e 
their  doom;  but  after  remaining  in  a  state  of  sad  sus- 
pense for  some  time,  they  were  ordered  to  dig  a  grave; 
to  effect  which,  they  cut  a  sapling  with  their  tomahawks, 
and  sharpened  one  end,  with  which  wooden  instrument 
one  of  them  broke  the  ground,  and  the  others  cast  the 
earth  out  with  their  hands,  the  negroes  being  permitted 
to  beat  them  severely  whilst  they  were  thus  employed. 
After  interring  the  bodies,  they  went  forwards  to  the 
rest,  and  overtook  them  as  they  were  preparing  for  their 
lodging.  They  were  not  yet  released  from  their  sapling 
confinement. 


(  77  ) 

2d.  Having  some  of  their  provisions  witli  them,  they 
made  an  early  meal,  and  traveled  the  whole  day.  They 
crossed  the  east  branch  of  Sus(inehanna  towards  even- 
ing, in  canoes,  at  the  place  where  (leneral  Sullivan's 
army  had  passed  it  in  their  expedition.  Their  encam])- 
ment  was  on  the  western  side  of  this  branch  of  the  river ; 
but  two  Indians  who  did  not  cross  it,  sent  for  Benjamin 
Gilbert,  jun.  and  Jesse  Gilbert's  wife,  and  as  no  probable 
cause  could  be  assigned  why  it  was  so,  the  design  was 
considered  as  a  very  dark  one,  and  was  a  grievous  afllic- 
tion  to  the  others. 

8rf.  The  morning  however  dispelled  their  fears,  when 
the}'  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  them  again,  and  un- 
derstood they  had  not  received  any  treatment  harder 
than  their  usual  fare.  The  horses  swam  the  Susque- 
hanna, by  the  side  of  the  canoe.  This  day  the  Indians 
in  their  march  found  a  scalp,  and  took  it  along  with 
them,  as  also  some  old  corn,  of  which  they  made  a  sup- 
per. They  fre(iuently  killed  deer,  and  by  that  means 
supplied  the  company  with  meat,  being  almost  the  only 
provision  they  ate,  as  the  flour  they  took  with  them 
was  expended. 

4th.  The  path  they  travelled  this  morning  was  but 
little  trodden,  which  made  it  difficult  for  those  who 
were  not  acquainted  with  the  woods  to  keep  in  it.  They 
crossed  a  creek,  made  up  a  large  lire  to  warm  themselves 
by,  and  then  separated  into  two  companies,  the  one 
taking  tlie  westward  path,  with  whom  were  Thomas  Peart 
Joseph  Gilbert,  Benjamin  Gill)ert,  jun.  and  Jesse  Gil- 
bert's wife  Sarah;  the  others  went  more  to  the  north, 
over  rich  level  land.  When  evening  came,  encjuiry  was 
made  concerning  the  four  captives  who  were  takrn  in 
the  western  path,  and  they  were  told,  that  "these  were 


mti 


m ) 


r  4/ 


(  78  ) 

killed  and  scalped,  and  you  may  "expect  the  same  fate 
to  night."  Andrew  Harrigar  was  so  terrified  at  the 
threat,  that  he  resolved  upon  leavinf?  them,  and  as  soon 
as  it  was  dark,  took  a  kettle  witli  pretence  of  bringing 
some  water,  and  made  his  (,'sr;a[)e  unrler  favour  of  the 
night:  He  was  sought  after  by  the  Indians  as  soon  as 
they  observed  him  to  be  missing^-. 

5th.  In  the  morning  the  Indians  returned;  their 
search  for  Andrew  Harrigar  being  happily  for  him  un- 
successful :  The  prisoners  who  remained,  were  there- 
fore treated  with  great  severity  on  account  of  his  escape, 
and  were  often  accused  for  being  privy  to  his  design. 
Capt.  Rowland  Monteur,  carried  his  resentment  so  far, 
that  he  threw  Jesse  CJilbert  down,  and  lifted  his  tom- 
hawk  to  strike  him,  which  the  mother  prevented,  by 
putting  her  head  on  his  forehead,  beseeching  him  to 
spare  her  son:  This  so  enraged  him,  that  he  turned 
round,  kicked  her  over,  and  tied  them  both  by  their 
necks  to  a  tree,  where  they  remained  until  his  fury  was 
a  little  abated;  he  then  loosed  them,  and  not  long  after 
bid  them  pack  up  and  go  forwards.  They  passed 
through  a  large  pine  swamp,  and  about  noon  reached 
one  of  the  Kittareen  Towns,  which  Wiis  desolated.  Not 
far  from  this  town,  on  the  summit  of  a  mountain,  there 
issues  a  large  si)ring,  forming  a  very  considerable  fall, 
and  runs  very  rapidly  in  an  irregular  winding  stream 
down  the  mountain's  sides.  They  left  this  place,  and 
took  up  their  lodging  in  a  deserted  wigwam  covered  with 
bark,  which  had  formerly  been  part  of  a  town  of  the 
^hipciuagas. 

*  Andrew  Harrigar  endured  many  hardships  in  tlie  woods,  and 
at  length  returned  to  the  settlements,  and  gave  the  first,  authentic 
intelligence  of  Benjamin  Gilbert  and  his  family,  to  their  friends. 


i 


m  I 


(  79  ) 


ana 
lontic 


Vith,  7th,  ^th.  They  continued  tliese  three  days  in  the 
neighbourliood  of  these  vilhiges,  which  luid  been  de- 
serted upon  General  Sullivan's  a])i)roach.  Here  they 
lived  well,  having  in  addition  to  their  usual  bill  of  fare, 
jilenty  of  turnips  and  potatoes,  which  had  remained  in 
the  ground,  unnoticed  by  the  army.  This  place  was  the 
hunting  ground  of  the  Shiixjuagas,  and  whenever  their 
industry  prompted  them  to  go  out  hunting,  they  had 
no  dilHculty  to  procure  as  many  deer  as  they  desired. 

Roast  and  boiled  meat,  with  vegetabk^s,  afforded  them 
plentiful  meals;  they  also  caught  a  wild  turkey,  and 
some  fish,  called  suckers.  Their  manner  of  catching 
fish  was,  to  sharpen  a  stick,  and  watch  along  the  rivers 
until  a  fish  came  near  them,  when  they  suddenly 
pierced  him  with  the  stick,  and  brought  him  out  of  the 
water. 

Here  were  a  number  of  colts,  some  of  them  were  taken, 
and  the  prisoners  ordered  to  manage  them,  which  was 
not  easily  done. 

9tL  When  they  renewed  their  msirch,  they  placed 
the  mother  upon  a  horse  that  seemed  dangerous  to  ride, 
but  she  was  preserved  from  any  injury.  In  this  day's 
journey  they  came  to  meadow  ground,  where  they  staid 
the  night,  the  men  being  confined  as  before  related,  and 
the  negroes  lay  near  them  for  a  guard. 

10th.  A  wet  swamp,  that  was  very  troublesome,  lay 
in  their  road ;  after  which  they  had  to  pass  a  rugged 
mountain,  where  there  was  no  path.  The  underbrush 
made  it  hard  labour  for  the  women  to  travel ;  but  no  ex- 
cuse would  avail  with  their  severe  masters,  and  they 
were  compelled  to  keep  up  with  the  Indians,  however 
great  the  fatigue:  When  they  had  passed  it,  they  tar- 
ried awhile  for  the  negroes  who  had  lagged    behind, 


.>  ii  -•  ti-nriitiw 


1 


i 


t 


(    / 


U  i 


I'!, 


(  80  ) 

hiiviiift'  sulMcient  employ  to  attend  to  the  colts  that  car- 
ried the  ])lunder.  When  all  the  company  met  together, 
they  agreed  to  rendezvous  in  an  adjoining  Pwamp. 

IMh.  A  long  reach  of  savannas  and  low  ground,  ren- 
dered this  day's  route  very  fatiguing  and  ]»ainful,  espe- 
cially to  the  women  :  Klizaheth  Peart's  hushand  not 
being  allowed  to  relieve  her  by  carrying  the  child,  her 
spirits  and  strength  were  so  exhausted  that  she  was 
ready  to  faint;  the  Indian  under  whose  care  she  was, 
observing  her  distress,  gave  her  a  violent  blow.  When 
we  compare  the  tem})er  and  customs  of  these  peo})le, 
with  those  of  our  own  colour,  how  much  cause  have  we 
to  be  thankful  for  the  su]>efiority  we  derive  from  thr 
blessings  of  civilization. 

It  might  truly  be  said,  days  of  bitter  sorrow,  and 
wearisome  nights  were  a})i)i)inted  theunhap|)y  captives. 

12^/).  Their  provisions  began  to  grow  scant,  having 
past  the  hunting  grounds:  The  want  of  proper  food  to 
support  them,  which  might  render  them  more  capable 
of  enduring  their  daily  fatigue,  was  a  hsavy  trial,  and 
was  much  increased  by  their  continement  at  night. 
Elizal)eth  Gilbert  was  reduced  so  low,  that  she  travelled 
in  great  i)ain  all  this  day,  riding  on  horse-back  in  the 
morning,  but  towards  evening  she  was  ordered  to  alight, 
and  walk  u})  a  hill  they  had  to  ascend; the  pain  she  suf- 
fered, togi'ther  with  want  of  food,  so  overcame  her,  that 
she  was  seized  with  a  chill:  The  Jndians  administered 
some  Hour  and  water  boiled,  which  afforded  her  some 
relief 

1  'M/i.  Last  night's  medicine  being  repeated,  they  con- 
tinued their  march,  and  after  a,  long  walk,  were  so  eil'ect- 
ually  worn  down,  that  they  halted.  The  pilot,  .John 
Hust<m,  the  elder,  took   Abner  (Jilbert  with  him,  (  as 


( «1 ) 


con- 
Hl'ect- 
i.Iohn 
i,  ( as 


they  could  make  more  expedition  than  the  rest)  to  pro- 
cure a  supply  of  provisions  to  relieve  their  necessity. 

14th.  The  mother  had  guttered  so  niucli,  that  two  of 
her  children  were  obliLred  to  lead  her.  Before  noon  they 
came  to  Canadosa«:o,  where  they  met  witii  lienjaniin 
Gilbert,  jun.  and  Jesse  Gilbert's  wife  Sarah,  two  of  the 
four  who  had  been  sejjarated  from  them  ten  days  past, 
and  taken  alon^;  the  western  i)atii :  This  meeting  af- 
forded  them  irreat  satisfaction;  the  doubt  and  uncer- 
tainty of  their  lives  being  spared,  often  distressed  their 
atiectionate  relations. 

John  Huston,  jun.  the  Indian  under  whose  care  Ben- 
jamin Gill)ert  was  placed,  designing  to  dispatch  him, 
painted  him  black  ;  this  exceedingly  terrilied  the  family, 
but  no  intreaties  of  tiieirs  being  likely  to  prevail,  they 
resigned  their  cause  to  him  whose?  ])ower  can  conti'oul 
all  events.  Wearied  with  their  weakness  and  travelling, 
they  made  a  stop  to  recover  themselves,  when  the  })ilot 
returning,  assured  tliem  they  should  soon  receive  some 
provisions.  The  Negroes  weie  reduced  so  low  witii 
hunger,  that  their  behaviour  was  dlll'erent  from  what  it 
had  been,  con<lucting  with  more  moderation.  At  their 
(piarters  in  the  evening,  two  white  men  came  to  them, 
one  of  which  was  a  volunteer  amongst  the  British,  the 
other  had  been  taken  |>rison(>r  some  time  before;  tlx'se 
two  men  brought  some  Homiuony,  and  sugar  made 
from  the  sweet  maple,  tiie  sap  being  boiled  to  a  consist- 
ency, and  is  but  a  little  inferior  to  the  sugar  imported 
from  tiie  Islands;  of  this  ])rovision,  and  an  liedgediog 
which  they  found,  they  made  a  more  comlbrtabh'  sup- 
per than  they  had  enjoyed  for  many  days. 

\i)fh.  In  the  morning  the  vohmteer  having  receive<l 
information  of  the  rough  treatnu'ut  the  prisoners  met 


(  82  ) 


ii 


.! 


«  Ji 


with  from  the  Negroes,  relieved  them,  l)y  taking  the  four 
bhicks  under  his  care.  It  was  not  without  much  dilli- 
culty  they  crossed  a  large  creek  which  was  in  their  way, 
being  obligetl  ,to  swim  the  horses  over  it.  Benjamin 
Gilbert  began  to  fail;  the  Indian,  whose  i)ro))erty  he 
was,  highly  irritated  at  his  want  of  strength,  put  a  rope 
about  his  neck,  leading  him  along  with  it;  fatigue  at  l;ist 
80  overcame  him,  that  he  fell  on  the  ground,  when  the 
Indian  pulled  the  rope  so  hard,  that  he  almost  choaked 
him;  his  wife  seeing  tliis,  resolutely  interceded  for  him, 
although  the  Indians  bid  her  go  forwards,  as  the  others 
had  gone  on  before  them;  this  she  refused  to  comedy 
with,  unless  her  husband  might  be  ])ermitted  to  accom- 
pany her;  they  replietl '"that  they  were  determined  to 
"kill  the  old  man,"  having  before  this  set  him  apart  as 
a  victim:  but  at  length  her  entreaties  })revailed,  and 
their  hearts  were  turned  from  their  cruel  purpose.  Had 
not  an  overruling  Providence  preserved  him  from  tlicir 
fury,  he  would  inevitably  have  perished,  as  the  Indians 
seldom  show  mercy  to  those  whom  they  devote  to  death, 
which,  as  has  been  before  observed,  was  the  case  with 
lienjamin  CJilbert,  whom  they  had  smeared  with  t)la!'k 
paint  from  this  motive.  When  their  anger  was  a  litth^ 
moderated,  they  set  forwards  to  overtake  the  rest  of  the 
com{)any :  their  relations,  who  had  been  eye-witnesses 
of  the  former  part  of  this  scene  of  cruelty,  and  exju'cted 
they  would  both  have  l)een  murdered,  rejoiced  greatly 
at  their  return,  considering  their  safety  as  a  Providen- 
tial deliverance. 

U>//i.  Necessity  induced  two  of  the  Indians  to  set  off 
on  horse  back,  into  the  Seneca  country,  in  search  of 
})rovisions.  The  prisoners,  in  the  mean  time,  were  ordered 
to  lii^  ^ip  »■  root,  something  resembling  t)otatoes,  which 


(  .S3  ) 


^(•t  off 
ich  of 

ivhk'h 


the  Indinns  call  \vhap])anie.«.  They  tarried  at  this  place, 
until  towards  the  eveninji  of  the  •8iiccecdin<r  day,  and 
made  a  soup  of  wild  onions  and  turnip  t<)i)8;  tliis  they 
eat  without  hread  or  salt,  it  could  not  therefore  afford 
suHicient  sustenance,  either  for  yount;  or  old;  their  food 
bein<>;  so  very  light,  their  strength  daily  wasted. 

17///.  They  left  this  j)lace,  and  crossed  the  Genesee 
river,  (which  empties  its  waters  into  lake  Ontario)  on  a 
raft  of  logs,  l)ound  together  ])y  hickory  withes;  tliis  ap- 
peared to  be  a  dangerous  method  of  ferrying  them  over 
such  a  river,  to  those  wiio  had  been  unaccustomed  to 
such  conveyjmces.  They  fixed  their  station  near  the 
Genesee  l)anks,  and  procured  more  of  the  wild  potatoe 
roots  before  mentioned,  for  their  sup])er. 

IS^A.  One  of  the  Indians  left  the  com})any,  taking 
with  him  the  finest  horse  they  had,  and  in  some  hours 
after  returned  with  a  large  piece  of  meat,  ordering  tlie 
captives  to  boil  it;  this  command  they  cheerfully  per- 
formed, anxiously  wat(;hingthe  kettle,  fresh  meat  ])eing 
a  rarity  which  they  had  not  eat  for  a  long  time.  Tlie 
Indians,  when  it  was  suflieieiitly  boiled,  (Hstriliuted  to 
each  one  a  })i('ce,  eating  sparingly  themselves.  Tlie 
prisoners  made  their  repast  without  l»read  or  salt,  and 
eat  with  a  good  relisli  what  they  HUi>i)osed  to  be  fresh 
beef,  but  afterward  understood  it  was  horse-llesli. 

A  shrill  lialloo  which  they  heard,  gave  the  prisoners 
some  uneasiness;  one  ot"  the  Indians  immediately  rode 
to  examine  the  caut-c  and  found  it  was  eapt.  Rowland 
Monteur,  and  liis  brother  .John's  wife,  with  some  other 
Indians,  who  were  seeking  them  with  provision.  The 
reiiainder  of  the  company  soon  reached  them,  and  they 
divided  some  bread,  wliieh  they  had  bntught,  into  hmall 
pieces,  according  to  the  number  of  the  company. 


.),  .. 


f '' 


4 


(  'S4  ) 

Here  is  a  large  extent  of  rich  furming  land,  remark- 
able of  its  levelness  and  beautiful  meadows.  Thecountry 
is  so  flat,  that  there  are  no  falls  in  the  rivers,  and  the 
waters  run  slow  and  deep;  and  whenever  showers  de- 
scend, they  continue  a  long  time  muddy. 

The  captain  and  his  company  had  brought  with  them 
cakes  of  hommony  and  Indian  corn ;  of  this  they  made 
a  good  meal.  He  appeared  pleased  to  see  the  prisoners, 
having  ))een  absent  from  them  several  days,  and  ordered 
them  all  round  to  shake  hands  with  him.  From  him 
they  received  information  respecting  Joseph  Gilbert  and 
Thomas  Peart,  who  were  s(')):irate(l  from  the  others  on 
the  4tli  instant,  that  they  had  arrived  at  the  Indian  set- 
tlements, some  time,  in  safety. 

The  company  staid  the  night  at  this  })lace.  One  of 
the  In<lians  n-fusetl  to  suffer  any  of  ihem  to  come  near 
his  lire,  or  c()n verse  with  the  prisoner  who  in  the  dis- 
tribution had  fallen  to  him. 

V,)th.  Pounding  hommony  was  this  day's  employ- 
ment, the  weather  being  warm,  made  it  a  hard  task; 
they  boiled  and  prepared  it  for  sui>})er,  the  Indians  set- 
ting down  to  eat  tirst,  and  when  they  liad  concluded 
their  meal,  they  wiped  th(>  spoon  on  the  soal  of  their 
in«)ckasons,  and  then  gave  it  to  the  captives:  hunger 
alone  could  ])rGvail  on  any  one  to  eat  alter  such  tilth 
and  nastiness. 

2U'A.  Eli/abeth  (Jilbcrt,  the  mother,  being  obliged  to 
ride  ulonc,  missed  the  path,  for  which  the  Indians  r<'- 
peatedly  str  L  iier.  Th*  ir  route  still  continued  through 
rid.  meadows.  After  wandering  for  a  time  out  of  the 
direct  ])ath,  they  came  to  an  Indian  town,  and  o])tained 
the  necessary  information  to  pursue  their  journev  ;  the 
Indians  ran  out  of  their  huts  to  see  the  prisoners,  and 


(  85  ) 


iiark- 
antry 
i  the 

-s  de- 

theni 

made 
doners, 
rdercd 
n  him 
^'I't  and 
nors  on 
ian  i>et- 

One  of 
1110  near 
the  dis- 

inploy- 
rd  task; 

ans  set- 
IncUided 

of  their 
lumber 

Ich  tilth 

Lhged  to 
hians  re- 
Ithroupih 
it  of  the 
l)i)taini'd 
liey ;  tlie 
lorH,  and 


to  partake  of  the  plunder,  hut  no  part  of  it  suited  them. 
Being  directed  to  travel  the  path  back  aij^ain,  for  a  short 
distance,  they  did  so,  and  then  struck  into  another,  and 
went  on  until  night,  by  which  time  they  were  very 
hungry,  not  having  eat  since  morning;  the  kettle  was 
again  set  on  the  fire,  for  hommony,  this  being  their  only 
food. 

21s/.  The  report  of  a  morning-gun  from  Niagara, 
which  they  heard,  contributed  to  raise  their  hopes,  they 
rejoiced  at  being  so  near.  An  Indian  was  disj)atched 
on  horse-back,  to  procure  {)rovisions  from  the  fort. 

Elizabeth  Gilbert  could  not  walk  as  fast  as  the  rest, 
she  was  therefore  sent  forwards  on  foot,  but  was  soon 
overtaken,  and  left  behind,  the  rest  being  obliged  by  the 
Indians  to  go  on  without  regarding  her.  She  would 
have  been  greatly  per})lexed,  when  she  came  to  a  divi- 
si(m  path,  had  not  her  husband  lain  a  branch  across  the 
path  which  would  have  led  her  wrong :  an  atlecting  in- 
stance of  both  ingenuity  and  tenderness.  She  met  sev- 
eral Indians,  who  passed  by  without  speaking  to  her. 

An  Indian  belonging  to  the  couipany,  who  was  on 
the  horse  Elizabeth  Gilbert  had  rode,  overtook  her,  and, 
as  he  went  on  slowly  conversing  with  her,  endeavoured 
to  alarm  her,  by  saying  that  she  would  be  left  behind, 
and  perish  in  the  woods;  yet,  notwithstanding  this,  his 
heart  was  so  softened  before  he  had  gone  any  great  dis- 
tance from  her,  that  he  alighted  from  the  horse  and  left 
him,  that  she  might  be  al)le  to  reach  the  rest  of  theeom- 
l)any.  The  more  seriously  she  considered  this,  the  more 
it  appeared  to  her,  to  be  a  convincing  instance  of  the 
overruling  protection  of  him,  who  can  "turn  the  heart 
of  man,  as  the  husbandman  turneth  the  water  course 
in  his  field." 


(  86) 


22d.  As  the  Indians  approjiched  nearer  their  habita- 
tions, they  frequently  repeated  their  halloos,  and  after 
some  time  they  received  an  answer  in  the  same  manner, 
which  alarmed  the  company  much;  but  they  soon  dis- 
covered it  to  proceed  from  a  party  of  whites  and  Indians, 
who  were  on  some  expedition,  thoup^h  their  pretence 
was,  thai  they  were  for  New- York.  Not  long  after  part- 
ing with  these,  the  ca})tain's  wife  came  to  tliem;she  was 
daughter  to  Siangorochti,  king  of  the  Senecas,  but  her 
mother  being  a  C'ayuga,  she  was  ranked  among  the  na- 
tion, the  children  generally  reckoning  their  descent  from 
the  mother's  side.  This  princess  was  attended  by  tlie 
captain's  brother  John,  one  other  Indian,  and  a  white 
prisoner  who  had  been  taken  at  W3'oming,  by  Rowland 
Montour;  she  was  dressed  altogether  in  the  Indian  man- 
ner, shining  with  gold  lace  and  silver  baubles.  They 
brought  with  them  from  the  fort  a  supply  of  i)rovisions. 
The  ('a})tain  being  at  a  distance  behind,  when  his  wife 
■came,  the  company  waited  for  him.  After  the  custom- 
ary salutations,  he  addressed  himself  to  his  wife,  telling 
her  that  Uebecca  was  her  daughter,  and  that  she  must 
not  be  induced,  b;  ny  consideration,  to  part  with  her; 
whereupon  she  took  a  silver  ring  off  her  finger,  and  put 
it  uj)on  Itebecca,  by  which  she  was  adopted  as  her 
daughter. 

They  feasted  upon  the  ]>rovisions  that  were  brought, 
for  they  had  been  for  sev'  ral  days  before  pinched  with 
hunger,  what  sustenance  they  could  procure  not  being 
sufficient  to  support  nature. 

2'](i  Their  spirits  were  in  some  degree  revived,  by 
the  enjoyment  of  [)lenty,  added  to  the  plcusing  ho|>f  ol" 
some  favourable  event  procuring  their  rel'^asement,  as 
they  were  not  far  distant  from  Niagara. 


I 


ii'  habita- 
md  after 
;  manner, 
soon  (lis- 
Indians, 
pretence 
fter  part- 
;she  was 
but  her 

the  na- 
mi  from 
'■  by  tlie 
a  white 
towland 
in  man- 
They 
visions, 
lis  wife 
;ust()m- 

telling 
e  must 
;h  lier; 
nd  put 
lis   iier 

■oujjfht, 

1  with 

being 

ed,  by 
ofx-  of 
'nt,  as 


(  ^7  ) 
Tiie  Indians  proceedpri  r.».  +u  •     • 
"ed  whooping  i'n  t^f^trnZ/T""''  """  ™"«»- 
day's  rout.,  they  met  •,  nTl  „    *"        '  """"""•     ^n  this 

«™.ncl,,.,„d  put  several  que  ;-ot,K'  '"  '"  ""  "'^ 
gave  then,  the  best  answer  ife'  ",,",'"'  '"  '^''i^''  ^^ 
hat  from  him  and  went  o»  '  ""^  """>  *°»k  his 

wp;;i:;;;:rt  ;;;ro^t,re  r  ^■^-'■•'■■•-  •-'  ^-^i- 

'he  .-aptives  a  blow.     Not  lon^!,      '!;  '■""''  '*"■"*  ^""h  of 

;;'"»■"  ""til  the  otl,ers  h  d    "o   oulof?""'  "'^'^   *- 
the  mother  was  ordered  to  ,^1"'°^  'he.r  sight,  when 
go  by  l„.r,elf,  she  was  mueh         ?'  ""'  '"^  *''«  had  to 
take,  as  there  was  ^o  Tth  Z'  T,  "'"'  '■°"-''» 
''"■e-'led.     In  this  diiemm.    «b^  "',"''  '''^'    ™"'''  be 
straight  forward  as    2 iM,'.  '''7'"*"'ed  to  keep  as 
t;"^e,she  had  the  sa,':       1 ;  "'^   ^''r,  """"  '?»«  "f 
The  pilot  u,en  n,ade  a  shor  I:  .r"  •■"^""■'  *''«  "'hers, 
hind  nnVht  eome  up  and   1^    ^  ^  "'"■"'  "'''"  ""ere  be- 

-»"d.  giving  eae"  'a  '  11' :•:';'"'" ';-ded  son,e  ru^ 

;:'"""  they  did  ..„,  ;„  ie?r'* /'■''  '"'"  "W  folks, 
Here  the  eap.ain,  who  n  d  t  ^"f'  "'  "^'^  ""'ice. 
Al>ner,  Jes.se,  Kc,,,.,,,  ,,7.  "  «  <=' "e    d.reetion,  painted 

■'^esonted  eael,  with        ",1  or'  ''"'"■'■'•  •"'"•  -'I 
'>e-  being   received  in  o  f  ™  r'"','"'"'  '"^  "  '"^en  of 
fr-;  "■emallthdrhatsand    ,"■,;""""•''''   ""■>•  ""* 
l;e  l.risoners  were  rele.,,^  r         '  ';-''™'"^  Hebeeea's. 
.>""  heretofore  been  comt  |1     ?' '""  '"""'y  '<«"'»  they 
"'  "'e  treatn,ent  theyT^^  ',"  ''"{• '""'  "-as  it  not 
he   ln,lian  .owns,  .ZZt^^T"'"'"  ">'^-"'><^l'i«, 
">e>rsitua,ionwo,,d      v '' ,  J       1""  "''  "  ^I'aration" 
'»'■  "f  their  «n-nds,  a  i  in!  from'th    7''''^• ''"'  ">«  '- 

ngirom  the  dreadful  y,lls  of  the 


(  88  ) 


Indians,  as  they  approached  the  hamlets,  is  easier  con- 
ceived than  described,  for  they  were  no  strangers  to  the 
customary  cruelty  exercised  upon  captives  on  entering 
their  towns.  The  Indians,  men,  women,  and  children 
collect  together,  bringing  clubs  and  stones,  in  order  to 
beat  them,  which  they  usually  do  with  great  severity, 
by  way  of  revenge  for  their  relations  who  have  been 
slain;  this  is  performed  immediately  upon  their  enter- 
ing the  village  where  the  warriors  reside:  This  treat- 
ment cannot  be  avoided,  and  the  blows,  however  cruel, 
must  be  borne  without  complaint,  and  the  })risoners  sire 
sorely  beaten,  until  their  enemies  are  wearied  with  the 
cruel  sport.  Their  sufferings  were  in  this  case  very 
great,  they  received  several  wounds,  and  two  of  the 
women  who  were  on  iiorseback,  were  much  bruised  by 
falling  from  their  horses,  which  were  frightened  by 
the  Indians.  Elizabeth,  the  mother,  took  shelter  by  the 
side  of  one  of  them,  but  upon  his  observing  that  she  met 
with  some  favour  upon  his  account,  he  sent  her  away; 
she  then  received  several  violent  blows,  so  that  she  was 
almost  disabled.  The  blood  trickled  from  their  heads, 
in  a  stream,  their  hair  being  cropt  close,  and  the  cloths 
they  had  on,  in  rags,  made  their  situation  truly  piteous: 
Whilst  they  were  inflicting  this  revenge  upon  the  ci.p- 
tives,  the  king  came,  and  put  a  stop  to  any  further 
cruelty,  by  telling  them  "  It  was  suflicient,"  which  they 
immediately  attended  to. 

Benjamin  Gilbert,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  Jesse  (iii- 
bert,  and  his  wife,  wert  ordered  to  Captain  Rowland 
Monteur's  house,  the  women  belonging  to  it,  were  kind 
to  them,  and  gave  them  something  to  eat;  Sarah  (lil- 
bert,  .Jesse's  wife,  was  taken  I'rom  them  by  three  women,  in 
order  to  be  placed  in  the  family  she  was  to  be  adopted  by. 


1 


i 

1 


.1 


[e  (iii- 

Iwland 

kiiul 

Ih  Clil- 

id  by. 


(  80  ) 

Two  officers  from  Niagara  fort,  captains  Dase,  and 
Powel,  came  to  see  the  prisoners,  and  prevent  ( as  they 
were  informed  )  any  abuse  that  mifrht  be  given  them, 
Benjamin  (iilbert  informed  these  t^fficers,  that  he  was 
appn^liensive  they  were  in  great  danger  of  being  mur- 
dered, upon  wliich  they  promised  him  they  would  send 
a  boat,  tlie  next  day,  to  bring  them  to  Niagara. 

24///.  Notwithstanding  the  kind  intention  of  the  of- 
ficers, they  oid  not  derive  the  expected  advantage  from 
it,  for  the  Indians  insisted  on  th<  '-  going  to  the  fort  on 
foot,  although  the  bruises  they  had  received  the  day  be- 
fore, from  the  many  severe  blows  given  them,  rendered 
their  journey  on  foot  very  distressing;  but  capt.  Mon- 
teur,  obstinately  persisting,  they  dare  not  long  remon- 
strate, or  refuse. 

When  they  left  the  Indian  town,  several  issued  from 
their  huts  after  them  with  sticks  in  their  hands,  yelling 
and  screetching  in  a  most  dismal  manner;  but  through 
tlie  interposition  of  four  Indian  women,  who  had  come 
with  the  captives,  to  prevent  any  further  abuse  they 
might  receive,  they  were  j)reserved.  One  of  them  walk- 
ing between  Benjamin  Gilbert  and  his  wife,  led  them, 
and  desired  Jesse  to  keep  as  near  them  as  he  could,  the 
other  three  walked  behind,  and  prevaile<l  with  the 
young  Indians  to  desist.  They  had  not  pursued  their 
route  long,  before  they  saw  capt.  .Tohn  Powel,  who  came 
from  his  ])oat,  and  persuaded  (though  with  some  diffi- 
culty )  the  Indians  to  get  into  it,  with  theca{)tives,  which 
relieved  them  from  their  ai)prehensions  of  further  dan- 
ger. After  reaching  the  fort,  capt.  Powel  introduced 
them  to  col.  (luy  .lohnson,  and  col.  lUitler,  who  asked 
the  ])risoners  many  questions,  in  the  presence  of  the  In- 
dians.    They  })resented  the  captain  witli  a  belt  of  wam- 


m 


w 


% 


n 


' 


I 


I 


i  I'    s. 


li  : 


I 


V 

-! 
•     I! 


(90) 

pum,  which  is  a  constant  practice  amongst  them,  wlien 
they  intend  a  ratification  of  the  peace.  Before  their 
connexion  with  P^uropeans,  these  belts  were  miule  of 
shells,  found  on  the  coasts  of  New  England  and  Virginia, 
which  were  sawed  out  into  beads  of  an  oblong  shape, 
about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  long,  which  when  strung  to- 
gether on  leathern  strings,  and  these  strings  fastened 
with  fine  threads  made  of  sinews,  compose  what  is  called, 
a  belt  of  wampum.  But  since  the  whites  have  gained 
footing  among  them,  they  make  use  of  the  common 
glass  beads  for  this  ])urpose. 

The  Indians,  according  to  their  usual  custom  and  cere. 
mony,  at  three  separate  times,  ordered  the  prisoners  to 
shake  hands  with  col.  Johnson. 

25th.  Benjamin  Gilbert,  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and  .Jesse 
Gilbert,  were  surrendered  to  Col.  Johnson.  This  deliver- 
ance from  such  scenes  of  distress,  as  they  had  become 
acquainted  with,  give  them  a  more  free  opportunity  of 
close  reflection  than  heretofore. 

The  many  sorrowful  days  and  nights  they  had  passed, 
the  painful  anxiety  attendant  on  their  frequent  separa- 
tion from  each  other,  and  the  uncertainty  of  the  fate  of 
the  rest  of  their  family,  overwhelmed  them  with  grief. 

2iith.  Expression  is  too  weak  to  describe  their  dis- 
tress, on  leaving  their  children  with  these  hard  masters ; 
they  were  not  unacquainted  with  many  of  the  diflicul- 
ties,  to  which  they  would  necessarily  be  exposed  in  a 
residence  amongst  Indians,  and  the  loss  which  the  young 
people  would  sustain  for  want  of  a  civilized  and  Christian 
education. 

27th.  In  this  desponding  situation,  the  kindness  of 
sympathy  was  awakened  in  one  of  the  Indian  women, 
who  even  forgot  her  i)rejudices,  and  wiped  away  the 
tears  which  trickled  down  Elizabeth  Gilbert's  cheeks. 


I 


U 


/ 


(  91    ) 


)img 
kt'uin 


b  of 
the 


» 


Tlie  particular  attention  of  Col.  Johnson's  housekeeper 
to  them,  from  a  commiseration  of  their  distress,  claims 
their  rememhrance:  Benjamin,  his  wife,  and  Jesse  (lil- 
bert,  were  invited  to  her  house,  where  she  not  only  gave 
the  old  folks  her  best  room,  but  administered  to  their 
necessities,  and  endeavoured  to  sooth  their  sorrows. 

Jesse  (Jilbert  was  favoured  to  get  employ,  which,  as  it 
was  some  alleviation  of  his  misfortunes,  may  be  con- 
sidered as  a  providential  kindness. 

2Hth.  A  few  days  after  they  came  to  the  fort,  they 
had  information  that  Benjamin  Peart  was  by  the  river 
side,  with  the  Indians;  upon  hearing  this  report,  his 
mother  went  to  see  him,  but  every  attempt  for  his  re- 
lease was  in  vain,  the  Indians  would  by  no  means  give 
him  up.  From  this  place  they  intended  to  march  with 
their  prisoners,  to  the  Genesee  river,  about  an  hundred 
miles  distance.  As  the  affectionate  mother's  solicitations 
proved  fruitless,  her  son  not  only  felt  the  afllicting  loss 
of  his  wife  and  child,  from  whom  he  had  been  torn  some 
time  before,  but  a  renewal  of  his  grief  on  this  short 
sight  of  his  parent.  She  procured  him  a  hat,  and  also 
some  salt,  which  was  an  acceptable  burden  for  the  jour- 
ney. 

Benjamin  Gilbert,  conversing  with  the  Indian  cajjtain 
who  made  them  captives,  observed  that  he  might  say 
what  none  of  the  other  Indians  could,  "That  he  had 
"brought  in  the  oldest  man,  and  the  youngest  child;" 
his  re])ly  to  this  was  expressive;  "It  was  not  I,  but  the 
"great  God  who  brought  you  through,  for  we  were  de- 
"  termined  to  kill  you,  but  were  prevented." 

The  British  officers  being  ac(iuaiiited  tliat  Jesse  Gil- 
bert's wife  was  among  the  Indians,  with  great  tender- 
ness agreed  to  seek  her  out,  and  after  a  diligent  enijuiry, 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Photogrdphic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4S03 


>> 


(  92) 


hi 

If 
h 


k'  R' 


found  that  she  was  among  tlie  Del ji wares,  they  went  to 
tliem,  and  endeavoured  to  agree  upon  terms  for  her  re- 
leasement;  the  Indians  brought  her  to  the  fort  the  next 
day,  but  would  not  give  her  up  to  her  relations. 

'2\)th.  As  the  cabbins  of  the  Indians  were  but  two 
miles  from  the  fort,  they  went  thither,  and  Jesse  and  the 
officers  used  every  argument  in  their  power  to  prevail 
upon  them,  representing  how  hard  it  was  to  part  these 
two  young  pe<)i)le;at  length  they  consented  to  bring  her 
in  next  day,  with  their  whole  tribe,  for  a  final  rele.ise. 

?)Oth.  They  accordingly  came,  but  started  so  many 
objections,  that  she  was  obliged  to  return  with  them. 

'Mst.  Early  next  morning,  Capt.  Ilobeson  generously 
undertook  to  procure  her  liberty,  which,  after  much  at- 
tention and  solicitude,  he,  together  with  Lieutenant 
Hillyard,  happily  accomplished.  They  made  the  In- 
dians several  small  presents,  and  gave  them  thirty  pounds 
as  a  ransom. 

When  >Sarah  (lil])ort  had  obtained  her  liberty,  she 
altered  her  dress  more  in  cliaracter  for  her  sex,  than  she 
had  been  able  to  do  whilst  amongst  the  Indians,  and 
went  to  her  husband  and  parents  at  Col.  Johnson's, 
where  she  was  joyfully  received. 

(-ol.  Jt)hns(m's  housekeeper  continued  her  kind  at- 
tentions to  them,  during  their  stay  here,  and  procured 
clothing  for  them  from  the  king's  stores. 

iUh  Montb  l.s7.  About  this  time  the  Senecas,  among 
whom  Elizabeth  I'eart  was  captive,  brought  her  with 
them  to  the  fort;  as  soon  as  the  mother  heard  of  it,  she 
went  to  her,  and  had  some  conversation  with  her,  but 
could  not  learn  where  she  was  to  be  sent  to;  she  then 
enquired  of  the  Inter])reter,  and  pressed  on  his  friend- 
ship, to  learn  what  was  to  become  of  her  daughter;  this 


(  93  ) 

request  he  complied  with,  and  informed  her  that  she 
was  to  he  given  away  to  anotlier  family  of  the  Senecas, 
and  adopted  among  them,  in  the  place  of  a  deceased  re- 
lation. Capt.  Powel  interested  himself  in  her  case  like- 
wise, and  offered  to  purchase  her  of  them,  hut  the 
Indians,  refused  to  give  her  up;  and  as  the  mother  anrl 
daughter  expected  they  should  see  each  other  no  more 
their  parting  was  very  affecting. 

The  Indian  woman  who  had  adopted  Rebecca  as  her 
daughter,  came  also  to  the  fort,  and  P]lizabeth  Gilbert 
made  use  of  this  opportunity  to  enciuire  concerning  her 
daughter,  the  Interpreter  informed  her,  there  was  no 
probability  of  obtaining  the  enlargement  of  her  child, 
as  the  Indians  would  not  part  with  her:  All  she  could 
do,  was,  to  reconmiend  her  to  their  notice,  as  very  weakly, 
and  of  consequence  not  a])le  to  endure  much  fatigue. 

2(1  and  otl.  Not  many  days  after  their  arrival  at 
Niagara,  a  vessel  came  up  Lake  Ontario  to  the  fort,  with 
orders  for  the  prisoners  togo  to  Montreal.  In  this  vessel 
came  one  Capt.  Brant,  an  Indian  chief,  higli  in  rank 
amongst  tliem.  Elizabetli  (iill)ert  immediately  applied 
herself  to  solicit  and  interest  him  in  behalf  of  her  chil- 
dren who  yet  remained  in  captivity;  he  readily  promised 
her  to  use  his  endeavours  to  procure  their  liberty.  A 
short  time  before  they  sailed  for  Montreal,  they  received 
accounts  of  Abner  and  Elizabeth  (Jili)ert  the  younger, 
but  it  was  also  uiKb^stood  that  tlieir  i)Ossessors  were  not 
disposed  to  give  them  up.  As  the  i)rospect  of  obtain- 
ing the  release  of  their  children  was  so  very  discourage- 
ing,  it  was  no  alleviation  to  their  distress,  to  be  removed 
to  Montreal,  where,  in  all  ju*ol»ability,  they  would  sel- 
dom l)e  able  to  gain  any  information  respecting  them; 
on  which  account,  they  were  very  solicitous  to  stay  at 


ii 


( y4 ) 


i 


I 


Niagara,  but  the  Colonel  said  they  could  not  remain 
there,  unless  the  son  would  enter  into  the  King's  service: 
this  could  not  be  (ronsented  to,  therefore  they  chose  to 
submit  to  every  calamity  which  might  be  permitted 
to  befal  them,  and  confide  in  the  great  controller  of 
events. 

Here  they  l)ecame  acquainted  with  one  Jesse  Pawling, 
from  Pennsylvania,  who  was  an  officer  among  the  British, 
and  behaved  with  kindness  and  respect  to  the  prisoners, 
which  induced  them  to  request  his  attention  also  to  that 
part  of  the  family  remaining  in  captivity;  it  appeared 
to  them  of  some  consequence  to  gain  an  additional 
friend.  The  Col.  also  gave  his  promise  to  exert  himself 
on  their  behalf. 

After  continuing  ten  days  at  Col.  Johnson's,  they  took 
boat  in  the  forenoon  of  the  2d.  being  the  sixth  day  of 
the  week,  and  crossed  tiie  river  Niagara,  in  order  to  go 
on  board  the  vessel  (whicn  lay  in  Lake  Ontario  )  for 
Montreal.  The  officers  procured  necessaries  for  their 
voyage  in  great  plenty,  and  they  were  also  furnished 
with  orders  to  draw  more  at  certain  places,  as  they  might 
have  occasion  :  These  civilities  may  appear  to  many, 
to  be  too  trivial  to  be  mentioned  in  this  narrative,  but 
those  who  have  been  in  cc^ual  distress,  will  not  be  in- 
sensible to  tlieir  value. 

4th.  The  vessel  sailed  down  the  lake,  on  the  sixth 
day  of  the  week,  and  on  first-day  following,  being  the 
fourth  day  of  the  sixth  month,  17<S(),  came  to  Carlton 
Island,  where  there  were  such  a  number  of  small  boats, 
whicli  brought  provisions,  that  it  had  the  aj)pearance  of 
a  fieet.  Benjamin  (Jilbert,  and  Jpsse,  went  on  shore  to 
obtain  leave  from  the  commanding  oflicer,  to  goto  Mon- 
treal in  the  small  boats,  as  the  vessel  they  came  in  could 


mimmmimm 


:«s 


(95  ) 

proceed  no  further:  They  met  with  a  kind  reception 
and  their  request  was  granted. 

5th.  On  second-day  following,  they  left  Carlton  Island, 
which  lies  at  the  mouth  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  took  their 
passage  in  open  boats  down  the  river  St.  Laurence,  and 
passed  a  number  of  small  Islands.  There  is  a  rapid  de- 
scent in  the  waters  of  this  river,  which  appears  danger- 
ous to  those  unacquainted  with  these  kind  of  falls.  The 
French  men  who  rowed  the  boats,  kept  them  near  the 
shore,  and  passed  without  much  difficulty  between  the 
rocks. 

C)th,  7th,  and  Hth.  Benjamin  Gilbert  had  been  much 
indisposed  before  they  left  the  fort,  and  his  disorder  was 
increased  by  a  rain  which  fell  on  their  passage,  as  they 
were  without  any  covering.  They  passed  ( )swagatchy, 
an  English  garrison,  by  the  side  of  the  river,  but  they 
were  not  permitted  to  stop  here;  they  j)roceeded  down 
the  St.  Laurence,  and  the  rain  continuing,  wenton  shore 
on  an  island  in  order  to  secure  themselves  from  the 
weather:  Here  they  made  a  shelter  for  Benjamin  Gil- 
bert, and  when  the  rain  ceased,  a  place  was  prepared  for 
him  in  the  boat,  that  he  might  lie  down  with  more  ease. 
His  botlily  weakness  made  such  rapid  progress,  that  it 
rendered  all  the  care  and  attention  of  his  wife  necessarv, 
and  likewise  called  forth  all  her  fortitude;  she  supported 
him  in  her  arms,  affording  every  possil)l«'  relief  to  miti- 
gate his  extreme  ])ains:  And  although  in  this  distressed 
condition,  he,  notwithstanding,  gave  a  satisfactory  t-vi- 
dence  of  the  virtueand  power  of  a  patient  and  iioly  resig- 
nation, which  can  disarm  the  king  of  terrors,  and  re- 
ceive him  as  a  welcome  messenger:  Thus  j)repare(l,  he 
passed  from  this  state  of  jjrobation,  the  eighth  day  of 
the  sixth  montli,  1780,  in  the  evening,  leaving  his  wife 


(  96) 


'1 


and  two  children,  who  were  withliiin,  in  all  the  anxiety 
of  deep  distress,  although  they  had  no  doubt  but  that 
their  loss  was  his  everlasting  gain.  Being  without  a 
light  in  the  boat,  the  darkness  of  the  night  added  not  a 
little  to  their  melancholy  situation.  As  there  were  not 
any  others  with  Elizal)eth  Gilbert  ])Ut  her  children,  and 
tlie  four  French  men  who  managed  the  boat,  and  her 
apprehensions  alarmed  her,  lest  thoy  should  throw  the 
corps  overboard,  as  they  appeared  to  be  an  unfeeling 
company,  she  therefore  aj)plied  to  some  British  officers, 
who  were  in  a  boat  behind  them,  who  dispelled  her 
fears,  and  received  her  under  their  protection. 

\)fh.  In  the  niornmg  they  i)assed  the  garrison  of  Coeur 
do  Lie,  and  waited  for  some  considerable  time,  a  small 
distance  l)elow  it.  Squire  ( 'ampbell,  who  had  the  charge 
of  the  i)risoners,  when  he  heard  of  Benjamin  Gilbert's 
decease,  sent  J(sse  to  the  commandant  of  the  garrison 
to  get  a  coffin,  in  which  they  put  the  corps,  and  very 
hastily  interred  him  under  an  oak  not  far  from  the  fort. 
The  boat  men  would  not  allow  his  widow  to  pay  the 
last  tribute  to  his  memory,  but  regardless  of  her  afflic- 
tion, refused  to  wait;  her  distress  on  this  occasion  was 
great  indeed,  but  being  sensible  that  it  was  her  duty  to 
submit  to  the  dispensations  of  an  over-ruling  providence, 
which  are  all  orderetl  in  wisdom,  she  endeavoured  to 
support  herself  under  her  afflictions,  and  proceeded  with 
the  boatmen. 

Near  this  place  they  passed  by  a  grist-mill,  which  is 
maintained  by  a  stone  wing  extended  into  the  river  St. 
Laurence,  the  stream  being  very  rapid,  acquires  :i  force 
sufficient  to  turn  the  wheel,  without  the  further  expence 
of  a  dam. 

The  current  carried  their  boat  forwards  with  amazing 
rapidity,  and  the  falls  became  so  dangerous  that  the 


(  J)7  ) 


boats  could  proceed  no  further;  they  tlierefore  hmdedin 
the  evening,  and  went  to  the  commandmg  officer  of  Fort 
Lasheen  to  request  a  lodging,  but  the  houses  in  the  gar- 
rison were  so  crowded,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  they 
obtained  a  small  room  belonging  to  the  boat-builders  to 
retire  to,  and  here  they  stowed  themselves  with  ten 
others. 

10th.  The  garrison  of  Lasheen  is  on  the  isle  of  Jcsu, 
on  whicli  the  town  of  Montreal  stands,  about  the  dis- 
tance of  nine  miles;  hither  our  travellers  iiad  to  j^o  by 
land,  and  as  they  were  entirel}'  unaccjuainttd  with  the 
road,  they  took  the  advantage  of  an  empty  cart  (which 
was  going  to  the  town  )  for  the  women  to  ride  in. 

The  land  in  this  neighbourhood  is  very  stony,  and 
the  soil  thin ;  the  cattle  small,  and  ill  favoured. 

When  they  arrived  at  Montreal,  they  were  introduced 
to  Brigadier  (Jeneral  M'C'lean,  who  after  examining  them, 
sent  them  to  one  Du(iuesne,  an  officer  among  the  loyal- 
ists, who  being  from  home,  they  were  desired  to  wait  in 
the  yard  until  he  came;  this  want  of  politeness,  gave 
them  no  favourable  impressions  of  the  master  of  the 
house;  when  he  returned,  he  read  their  pass,  and  gave 
Jesse  an  order  for  three  days  provisions. 

Daniel  M'Ulphin  received  tliem  into  his  house ;  by 
}»im  they  were  treated  with  greatkindness,  and  the  women 
continued  at  his  house  and  worked  tive  weeks  for  him. 

Jesse  Gilbert  met  with  employ  at  Thomas  lUisby's 
where  he  lived  very  agreeable  for  the  space  of  nine 
months. 

Elizabeth  Gilbert  had  the  satisfaction  of  an  easy  em- 
ploy at  Adam  Scott's,  merchant,  having  the  superintend- 
ence of  his  kitchen,  but  about  six  weeks  after  she  en- 
gaged in  his  service,  Jesse's  wife  Sarah,  was  taken  sick 


n 


It! 


(08) 

at  Thomas  Busby's,  which  made  it  necessary  for  her 
mother  to  disengage  herself  from  the  place  where  she 
was  so  agreeably  situ.ited,  in  order  to  nurse  her.  These 
three  were  favoured  to  be  considered  as  the  king's  prison- 
ers, having  rations  allowed  them ;  this  assistance  was  very 
comfortable,  but  Elizabeth's  name  being  erased  out  of 
the  list  at  a  time  when  they  needed  an  additional  sup- 
ply, they  were  much  straightened :  Upon  an  applica- 
tion to  one  Colonel  Campbell,  he,  together  with  Esquire 
Campbell,  took  down  a  short  account  of  her  sufferings 
and  situation,  and  after  preparing  a  concise  narrative, 
they  applyed  to  the  Brigadier  General,  to  forward  it  to 
General  Haldimand  at  Quebec,  desiring  his  attention  to 
the  sufferers,  who  speedily  issued  his  orders,  that  the 
releasement  of  the  family  should  be  procured,  with  par- 
ticular injunctions  for  every  garrison  to  furnish  them 
with  necessaries  as  they  came  down. 

As  soon  as  Sarah  Gilbert  recovered  from  her  indisposi- 
tion, her  mother  returned  to  Adam  Scott  s  family. 

Thomas  Gomerson  hearing  of  their  situation  came  to 
see  them ;  he  was  educated  a  quaker,  and  had  been  a 
merchant  of  New  York,  and  travelled  with  Robert 
Walker  in  his  religious  visits;  but  upon  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  had  deviated  from  his  former  principles, 
and  had  lost  all  the  appearance  of  a  friend,  wearing 
a  sword:  He  behaved  with  respect  to  the  prisoners, 
and  made  Elizabeth  a  present. 

The  particular  attention  of  Col.  Cross,  and  the  care  he 
showed  by  writing  to  Niagara,  on  behalf  of  the  captives, 
as  he  was  entirely  a  stranger  to  her,  is  remembered  with 
Gratitude. 

As  there  was  an  opportunity  of  hearing  from  Niagara, 
it  gave  them  great  pleasure  to  be  informed  that  Eliza- 


(  99   ) 


beth  Gilbert  was  amongst  the  white  people,  she  having 
obtained  her  release  from  the  Indians,  prior  to  the  others. 

Sarah  Gilbert,  wife  of  Jesse,  becoming  a  mother,  Eliza- 
beth left  the  service  she  was  engaged  in,  Jesse  having 
taicen  a  house,  that  she  might  give  her  daughter  every 
necessary  attendance :  and  in  order  to  make  their  situa- 
tion as  comfortable  as  possible,  they  took  a  child  to 
nurse,  which  added  a  little  to  their  income.  After  this, 
Elizabeth  Gilbert  hired  herself  to  iron  a  day  for  Adam 
Scott;  whilst  she  was  at  work,  a  little  girl  belonging  to 
the  house,  accjuainted  her  that  there  were  some  who 
wanted  to  see  her,  and  upon  entering  into  the  room,  she 
found  six  of  her  children ;  the  joy  and  surprise  she  felt 
on  this  occasion,  were  beyond  what  we  shall  attempt  to 
describe.  A  messenger  was  sent  to  inform  Jesse  and 
his  wife,  that  Joseph  Gilbert,  Benjamin  Peart,  Elizabeth 
his  wife,  and  young  child,  Abner  and  Elizabeth  Gilbert, 
the  younger,  were  with  their  mother.  It  must  afford 
very  pleasing  reflections  to  any  affectionate  disposition 
to  dwell  awhile  on  this  scene,  that  after  a  captivity  of 
upwards  of  fourteen  months,  so  happy  a  meeting  should 
take  place. 

Thomas  Peart,  who  had  obtained  his  liberty,  and  tar. 
ried  at  Niagara,  that  he  might  be  of  service  to  the  two 
yet  remaining  in  captivity,  viz.  Benjamin  Gilbert,  jun. 
and  Rebecca  Gilbert. 

Abigail  Dodson,  the  daughter  of  a  neighbouring  far- 
mer, who  was  taken  with  them,  having  inadvertently 
informed  the  Indians  she  was  not  of  the  Gilbert  family, 
all  attempts  for  her  liberty  were  fruitless. 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  relate  how  Joseph  Gilbert, 
the  eldest  son  of  the  deceased,  fared  amongst  the  In- 
dians:    He,  with  Thomas  Peart,  Benjamin  Gilbert,  jun. 


(  100  ) 


and  Jesse  Gilbert's  wife  Sarah,  were  taken  along  the 
westward  path,  as  before  related;  after  some  short  con- 
tinuance in  this  path,  Thomas  Peart  and  Joseph  (Jil- 
bert  were  taken  from  the  other  two,  and  by  a  different 
rout  through  many  difficulties,  they  were  brought  to 
Caracadera,  where  they  received  the  insults  of  the  women 
and  children,  whose  husbands  or  parents  had  fallen  in 
their  hostile  excursions. 

Joseph  Gilbert  was  separated  from  his  companion, 
and  removed  to  an  Indian  villa,  called  Nundow,  about 
seven  miles  from  Caracadera;  his  residence  was,  for 
several  week^,  in  the  king's  family,  whose  hamlet  was 
superior  to  the  other  small  huts.  The  king  himself 
brought  him  some  hommony,  and  treated  him  with  great 
civility,  intending  his  adoption  into  the  family,  in  the 
place  of  one  of  his  sons,  who  was  slain  when  General 
Sullivan  drove  them  from  their  habitations.  As  Nun- 
dow was  not  to  be  the  \Ai\ee  of  his  abode,  his  quarters 
were  soon  changed,  and  he  was  taken  back  to  Cara- 
cadera :  but  his  weakness  of  body  was  so  great,  that  he 
was  two  days  accomplishing  this  journey,  which  was 
only  seven  miles,  and  not  able  to  procure  any  other 
food  than  roots  and  herbs,  the  Indian  economy  leaving 
them  without  any  provisions  to  subsist  on.  Here  they 
adopted  him  into  the  family  of  one  of  tlie  king's  sons, 
informing  him,  that  if  he  would  marry  amongst  them, 
he  should  enjoy  the  privileges  which  they  enjoyed ;  but 
this  proposal  he  was  not  disposed  to  comply  with,  and 
as  he  was  not  over  anxious  to  conceal  his  dislike  to  them, 
the  sufferings  he  underwent  were  not  alleviated.  The 
manner  of  his  life  differing  so  much  from  what  he  had 
before  been  accustomed  to,  having  to  eat  the  wild  roots 
and  herbs  before  mentioned,  and  as  he  had  been  lame 


(  101  ) 

from  a  child,  and  subject  to  frequent  indispositions,  it 
was  requisite  for  him  to  pay  more  attention  to  his  weak 
habit  of  body,  than  his  captors  were  willing  he  should. 
When  the  master  of  the  family  was  at  home,  the  respect 
he  showed  to  Joseph,  and  his  kindness  to  him,  rendered 
his  situation  more  tolerable  than  in  his  abssence.  Fre- 
quently suffering  with  hunger,  the  privilege  of  a  plenti- 
ous  table,  appeared  to  him  as  an  inestimable  blessing, 
which  claimed  the  warmest  devotion  of  gratitude:  In 
such  a  distressed  situation,  the  hours  rolled  over  with  a 
tediousness  almost  insupportable,  as  he  had  no  agree- 
able employ  to  relieve  his  mind  from  the  reflections  of 
his  sorrowful  captivity:  This  manner  of  life  continued 
about  three  months,  and  when  they  could  no  longer 
procure  a  supply  by  their  hunting,  necessity  compelled 
them  to  go  to  Niagara  fort  for  provision.  The  greater 
number  of  the  Indians  belonging  to  Caracadera  attended 
on  this  journey,  in  order  to  obtain  a  supply  of  provisions : 
their  want  or  economy  being  so  great,  as  to  have  con- 
sumed so  early  as  the  eighth  month,  all  they  had  raised 
the  last  year,  and  the  present  crops  unfit  to  gather: 
Their  profuse  manner  of  using  their  scant  pittance  of 
provision,  generally  introducing  a  famine,  after  a  short 
time  of  feasting.  They  compute  the  distance  from  Cara- 
cadera, to  Niagara  fort,  to  be  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
miles;  on  this  journey  they  were  upwards  of  5  days, 
taking  some  venison  in  their  route,  and  feasting  with 
great  greediness,  as  they  had  been  a  long  time  without 
meat. 

When  they  reached  the  fort,  they  procured  cloathing 
from  the  king's  stores  for  Joseph  Gilbert,  such  as  the  In- 
dians usually  wear  themselves,  a  match  coat,  leggings, 
&c.    His  indisposition  confined  him  at  Col.  Johnson's 
7 


^rv^rm9' 


^9^m^m 


'- 


t'  I 


1: 


(  102  ) 

for  several  days,  during  which  time,  the  British  officers 
endeavoured  to  agree  with  the  Indians  for  his  release- 
ment,  but  they  would  not  consent.  The  afflicting  ac- 
count of  the  death  of  his  father,  which  was  here  com- 
municated to  him,  spread  an  additional  gloom  on  his 
mind.  After  continuing  at  the  fort  about  four  weeks, 
the  Indians  ordered  him  back  with  them ;  this  was  a 
sore  stroke,  to  leave  a  degree  of  ease  and  plenty,  and  re- 
sume the  hardships  of  an  Indian  life:  With  this  un- 
comfortable prospect  before  him,  added  to  his  lameness, 
the  journey  was  toilsome  and  painful.  Tliey  were  five 
days  in  their  return,  and  when  they  arrived,  their  corn 
was  ripe  for  use ;  this,  with  the  advantage  of  hunting,  as 
the  game  was  in  its  greatest  perfection,  furnished  a  pres- 
ent comfortable  subsistence. 

Joseph  had  permission  to  visit  his  fellow  captive, 
Thomas  Peart,  who  was  at  a  small  town  of  the  Indians, 
about  seven  miles  distance,  called  Nundow,  to  whom  he 
communicated  the  sorrowful  intelligence  of  their  mother's 
widowed  situation. 

At  the  first  approach  of  spring,  Joseph  Gilbert  and 
his  adopted  brother  employed  themselves  in  procuring 
rails,  and  repairing  the  fence  about  the  lot  of  ground 
they  intended  to  plant  with  corn ;  as  this  part  of  preserv- 
ing the  grain  was  allotted  to  them,  the  planting  and 
culture  was  assigned  to  the  women,  their  husbandry 
being  altogether  performed  by  the  hoe. 

The  Indian  manner  of  life  was  by  no  means  agreeable 
to  Joseph  Gilbert:  their  irreguhirity  in  their  meals  was 
hard  for  him  to  bear;  when  they  had  provisions  in  plenty, 
they  observed  no  plan  of  domestic  economy,  but  in- 
dulged their  voracious  appetites,  which  soon  consumed 
their  stock,  and  a  famine  succeeded. 


(  103) 

In  the  early  part  of' the  sixth  month,  1781,  their  corn 
spent,  and  they  were  obliged  to  have  recourse  again  to 
the  wild  herbage  and  roots,  and  were  so  reduced  for 
want  of  provision,  that  the  Indians  having  found  the 
carcase  of  a  dead  horse,  they  took  the  meat  and  roasted 
it. 

An  officer  from  the  fort  came  down  to  enquire  into 
the  situation  of  the  Indians,  upon  observing  the  low 
condition  Joseph  was  in,  not  being  likely  to  continue 
long  without  some  relief,  which  the  officer  privately  af- 
forded, he  being  permitted  to  frequent  his  house,  he  ad- 
vised him  by  flight,  to  endeavour  an  ejcape  from  the 
Indians,  informing  him  that  he  had  no  other  expedient 
for  his  release;  this  confirmed  him  in  a  resolution  he 
had  for  some  time  been  contemplating,  but  his  lameness 
and  weak  habit,  for  want  of  proper  sustenance,  rendered 
it  impracticable  to  make  such  an  attempt  at  that  time, 
and  it  would  require  much  care  and  attention  to  his  own 
health  and  strength,  to  gather  sufficient  for  such  an  un- 
dertaking; he  therefore  made  use  of  the  liberty  allowed 
him  to  visit  the  officer,  and  partake  of  his  kindness  and 
assistance,  that  he  might  be  prepared  for  the  journey. 

Embracing  a  favorable  opportunity,  when  the  men 
were  generally  from  home,  some  in  their  war  exped" 
tion  and  some  out  hunting,  he  left  them  one  night  whilst 
the  family  slept,  and  made  the  best  of  his  way  towards 
Niagara  fort,  following  the  path,  as  he  had  once  before 
gone  along  it.  Having  a  small  ])iece  of  bread  which  he 
took  from  the  hut,  he  made  a  hrsty  repast,  travelling 
day  and  night,  in  order  to  escape  from  the  further  dis- 
tresses of  cai)tivity.  As  he  neither  took  any  sleep,  or 
other  food  by  the  way  than  the  piece  of  bread  mentioned, 
for  the  two  days  and  nights  he  pursued  his  journey,  he 


■J.U 


■  ■:«■■ 


mnm 


■WBI 


■i«! 


mtmmtmi 


«P 


B' 


11 


(  104  ) 

was  much  fatigued  when  he  reached  the  fort,  and  he  ex- 
perienced the  effects  for  several  days.  Upon  his  apply- 
ing to  Colonel  Johnson,  he  was  hospitably  entertained, 
and  the  next  day  saw  three  of  the  Indians  whom  he  had 
left  at  the  town  when  he  had  set  off. 

After  a  few  days  stay  here,  as  most  of  the  family  were 
discharged  from  captivity,  and  waiting  for  a  passage  to 
Montreal,  a  vessel  was  fitted  to  take  them  on  board,  in 
order  to  proceed  down  the  lake. 

We  come  next  to  Benjamin  Peart,  who  remained  the 
first  night  after  his  arriving  at  the  Indian  huts,  with  his 
wife  and  child,  but  was  separated  from  them  the  next 
day,  and  taken  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  presented 
to  one  of  the  families  of  the  Seneca  nation,  and  after- 
wards introduced  to  one  of  their  chiefs,  who  made  a  long 
harrangue  which  Benjamin  did  not  understand.  The 
Indians  then  gave  him  to  a  Squaw,  in  order  to  be  re- 
ceived as  he;  adopted  child,  who  ordered  him  to  a  pri- 
vate hut,  where  the  women  wept  over  him  in  remem- 
brance of  the  relatic  1  in  whose  stead  he  was  received. 
After  this,  he  went  with  his  mother  ( by  adoption )  to 
Niagara  river,  about  two  miles  below  the  great  falls,  and 
staid  here  several  days,  then  went  to  the  fort  on  their 
way  to  the  Genesee  river,  where  he  had  the  pleasure  of 
conversing  with  his  mother,  and  receiving  information 
concerning  his  wife  and  child;  but  even  this  satisfac- 
tion was  short  lived,  for  he  neither  couid  obtain  per- 
mission to  visit  his  wife  nor  was  he  allowed  to  converse 
freely  with  his  mother,  as  the  Indians  hurried  him  on 
board  their  bark  canoes,  where  having  placed  their  pro- 
visions, they  proceeded  with  expedition  down  the  lake 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Genesee  river;  the  computed  dis- 
tance from  the  small  village  to  the  mouth  of  the  riven 


.    (   105  ) 

being  one  hundred  miles,  and  from  thence  up  the  Gen- 
esee to  the  place  of  their  destination,  thirty  miles;  in 
their  passage  up  the  river  they  were  about  five  days, 
and  as  the  falls  in  the  river  near  its  entrance  into  lake 
Ontario,  has  made  a  carrying-place  of  about  two  miles, 
they  dragged  their  canoe  this  distance  to  the  place  of 
boating  above  the  falls.  There  were  nine  Indians  of  the 
part}'^  with  them.  They  frequently  caught  fish  by  the 
way. 

It  no  doubt  was  a  sore  affliction  to  Benjamin,  to  be 
so  far  removed  from  his  wife  and  child  whilst  among 
the  Indians:  patience  and  resignation  alone  could  en- 
dure it. 

When  the  party  arrived  at  the  place  of  their  designed 
settlement,  they  soon  erected  a  small  hut  or  wigwam, 
and  the  ground  being  rich  and  level,  they  began  with 
their  plantation  of  Indian  corn.  Two  white  men  who 
had  been  taken  prisoners,  the  one  from  Suscjuehanna, 
the  other  from  Minisinks,  both  in  Pennsylvania,  lived 
near  this  settlement,  and  were  allowed  by  the  Indians 
to  use  the  horses  and  plant  for  themselves:  these  men 
lightened  the  toil  of  Benjamin  Beart's  servitude,  as  he 
was  frequently  in  their  company,  he  had  the  liberty  of 
doing  something  Ibr  himself,  though  without  much  suc- 
cess. 

His  new  habitation,  as  it  was  not  very  healtliy,  intro- 
duced fresh  difliculties,  for  lie  had  not  continued  here 
long,  ])efore  he  was  afllicted  with  sickness,  which  prayed 
upon  him  near  three  months,  the  Indians  repeatedly 
endeavouring  to  relieve  him  by  tlieir  knowledge  in 
simples,  but  their  endeavours  proved  inene(!tual ;  the 
approach  of  the  winter  season  allorded  the  relief  sought 
for.    Their  j)rovi8ion  was  not  very  tempting  to  a  weakly 


(  106) 


1 

u 


>'■  ' 


constitution,  having  nothing  else  than  hommony  and 
but  short  allowance  even  of  that,  insomuch  that  when 
his  appetite  increased,  he  could  not  procure  food  suffi- 
cient to  recruit  his  strength.  The  company  of  his  brother 
Thomas  Peart  who  visited  him,  was  a  great  comfort, 
and  as  the  town  he  lived  at  was  but  the  distance  of 
eighteen  miles,  they  had  frequent  opportunities  of  con- 
doling with  each  other  in  their  distress. 

The  Indian  men  being  absent  on  one  of  their  war  ex- 
cursions, and  the  women  emi)loyed  in  gathering  the 
corn,  left  Benjamin  Peart  much  leisure  to  rellect  in  soli- 
tude. 

Towards  the  beginning  of  the  winter  season  the  men 
returned,  and  built  themselves  a  log  house  for  thegranary, 
and  then  removed  about  twenty  miles  from  their  settle- 
ment into  the  hunting  country,  and  procured  a  great 
variety  of  game,  which  they  usually  eat  without  bread 
or  salt.  As  he  had  been  with  the  Indians  for  several 
months,  their  language  became  more  familiar  to  him. 

Hunting  and  feasting  after  their  manner  being  their 
only  employ,  they  soon  cleared  the  place  where  they  set- 
tle'l  of  the  game,  which  made  a  second  removal  neces- 
sary, and  they  are  so  accustomed  to  this  wandering  life, 
that  it  becomes  their  choice. 

They  fixed  up  a  log  hut  in  this  second  hunting  place, 
and  continued  until  the  second  month,  when  they  re- 
turned to  their  first  settlement,  though  their  stay  was 
but  a  few  days,  and  then  back  again  to  their  log  hut. 

A  heavy  rain  falling  melted  some  of  the  snow  which 
had  covered  the  ground  about  two  feet  deep. 

The  whole  family  concluded  upon  a  journey  to  Nia- 
gara fort  by  land,  which  was  completed  in  seven  days. 
At  the  fort  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  conversing  with 


(  107  ) 


his  brother  Thomas  Peart,  and  the  same  day  his  wife 
also  came  from  Buffaloe  creek,  with  the  Senecas  to  the 
fort;  this  happy  meeting,  after  an  absence  often  months, 
drew  tears  of  joy  from  them.  He  made  an  inquiry  after 
his  child,  as  he  had  neither  heard  from  it  or  the  mother 
since  their  separation.  The  Indians  not  approving  of 
their  conversing  much  together,  as  they  imagined  they 
would  remember  tlieir  former  situation,  and  become  less 
contented  with  their  present  manner  of  life,  they  sepa- 
rated them  again  the  same  day,  and  took  Benjamin's 
wife  about  four  miles  distance;  but  the  party  with  whom 
he  came,  permitted  him  to  stay  here  several  nights,  and 
when  the  Indians  had  completed  their  purpose  of  traf- 
fic they  returned,  taking  him  some  miles  ))ack  with 
them  to  one  of  their  towns;  but  upon  his  telling  them 
he  was  desirous  of  returning  to  the  fort  to  procure  some- 
thing he  had  l)efore  forgot,  in  order  for  his  journey,  he 
was  permitted.  As  he  staid  the  night,  his  adoj)ted  brother 
the  Indian  came  for  him,  but  upon  his  complaining 
that  he  was  so  lame  as  to  prevent  his  travelling  with 
them  they  suffered  him  to  remain  behind. 

He  continued  at  the  fort  about  two  months  before  the 
Indians  came  back  again,  and  as  he  laboured  for  the 
white  people,  he  had  an  opportunity  of  procuring  salt 
provision  from  the  king's  stores,  which  had  been  for  a 
long  time  a  dainty  to  him. 

When  one  of  the  Indians  (a  second  adopted  brother) 
canie  for  him,  Benjamin  went  with  him  to  capt.  Powol, 
who  with  earnest  solicitations  and  some  presents  pre- 
vailed upon  the  Indian  to  suffer  him  to  stay  until  he  re- 
turned from  his  war  expedition;  but  this  was  the  last  he 
ever  made,  as  he  lost  his  life  on  the  frontiers  of  New 
York. 


(  108) 


1(1 


if 


Jr 


H<« 


After  this  another  captain  (a  third  adopted  hrother) 
came  to  the  fort,  and  when  Benjamin  Peart  saw  him,  he 
appled  to  adjutant  general  Wilkinson,  to  intercede  for 
his  release,  who  accordinjjjly  waited  upon  col.  Johnson 
and  other  officers,  to  prevail  with  them  to  exert  themselves 
on  his  behalf;  they  concluded  to  hold  a  council  with 
the  Indians  for  this  purpose,  who  after  some  delil)era- 
tion  surrendered  him  up  to  col.  Johnson,  for  which  he 
gave  them  a  valuable  compensation. 

Benjamin  Peart  after  his  release  was  employed  in  col. 
Johson's  service,  and  continued  with  him  for  several 
months.  His  child  had  been  released  for  some  lime, 
and  his  wife  by  earnest  entreaty  and  plea  of  sickness, 
had  prevailed  with  the  Indians  to  permit  her  to  stay  at 
the  fort,  which  proved  a  great  consolation  and  comfort 
after  so  long  a  separation. 

About  the  middle  of  the  eighth  month,  there  was  pre- 
paration made  for  their  proceeding  to  Montreal,  as  by 
this  time  there  were  six  of  the  prisoners  ready  to  go  in  a 
ship  which  lay  in  lake  Ontario,  whose  names  were  Jos- 
eph Gilbert,  Benjamin  and  P]lizabeth  Gilbert  the  younger. 
These  went  on  board  the  vessel  to  Carlton  Island,  which 
is  as  far  as  the  large  vessels  they  use  in  the  lake  can 
proceed ;  remainder  of  the  way  (  on  account  of  the  fre- 
quent shoals)  they  are  obliged  to  go  in  smaller  boats. 

The  commanding  officer  at  Niaga  )cured  a  suit- 

able supply  of  provision,  and  furni&ncu  them  with  or- 
ders to  draw  more  at  the  several  garrisons,  as  occasion 
veciuired. 

In  two  days  they  arrived  at  th  j  upper  end  of  Carlton 
Island,  and  went  to  the  commander  in  chief  to  shew 
their  pass,  and  obtain  what  they  were  in  need  of.  Arter- 
wari.ls  they  continued  on  to  the  garrison  of  Oswagrcchy  by 


I 


(  109  ) 

the  side  of  the  river  St.  Laurence,  in  an  open  boat  rowed 
by  four  Frenchmen,  this  class  of  people  being  chiefly 
employed  in  laborious  services. 

The  stream  was  so  rapid  and  full  ot  rocks,  that  the 
prisoners  were  too  much  alarmed  to  remain  in  the  boat, 
and  concluded  to  go  on  shore  until  they  passed  the  dan- 
ger; but  the  Frenchmen,  who  had  been  accustomed  to 
these  wild  and  violent  rapids,  (the  longest  of  which  is 
known  by  the  name  of  the  long  Sou )  kept  on  board. 
This  surprising  scene  continued  for  the  distance  of  six 
miles,  and  they  viewed  it  with  a  degree  of  horror,  their 
heads  becoming  almost  giddy  with  the  prospect.  When 
the  boats  had  shot  the  falls,  they  again  went  on  board 
and  continued  down  the  river  to  Cour  de  Lac.  No  great 
distance  below  this  they  an^^ored,  and  landed  at  the 
place  where  their  father  intered,  shedding  many 

tears  of  filial  affection  to  ius  memory.  Tiiey  afterwards 
applied  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  garrison  for 
provisions  and  other  necessaries;  they  then  bid  adieu 
to  this  solemn  spot  of  sorrow,  and  ])roceeded  to  Lasheen, 
which  they  reached  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  the  eighth 
month,  having  been  eight  days  on  their  voyage. 

After  refreshing  themselves  at  this  garrison,  they  set 
forward  on  foot  for  Montreal,  which  they  reached  the 
same  day.  They  went  to  the  Brigadier  general  and 
showed  him  their  passport,  and  as  soon  as  tit  liberty 
waited  on  their  mother  at  Adam  Scott's,  as  has  been  al- 
ready related. 

The  situation  of  Elizabeth  Peart  wife  of  Benjamin,  and 
her  child  is  next  to  be  related. 

After  she  and  the  child  were  parted  from  her  husband, 
Abigail  Dodson  and  the  child  were  taken  several  miles 
in  the  night  to  a  little  hut,  where  they  staid  till  morn- 


^^1 


(  110) 

ing,  and  the  day  following  were  taken  within  eight  miles 
of  Niagara,  where  she  was  adopted  into  one  of  the  fami- 
lies of  Senecas ;  the  ceremony  of  adoption  to  her  was 
tedious  and  distrensing;  they  obliged  her  to  sit  down 
with  a  young  man  an  Indian,  and  the  eldest  chieftain  of 
the  family  repeated  a  jargon  of  words,  to  her  unintelli- 
gible, but  which  she  considered  as  some  form  amongst 
them  of  marriage,  and  th^s  apprehension  introduced 
the  most  violent  agitations,  as  she  was  determined,  at 
all  events,  to  oppose  any  step  of  this  nature;  but  after 
the  old  Indian  concluded  his  speech  she  was  relieved 
from  the  dreadful  eml)arra8sment  she  had  been  under, 
as  she  was  led  away  by  another  Indian. 

Abigail  Dodson  was  given  the  same  day  to  one  of  the 
families  of  the  Cayuga  nation,  so  that  Elizabeth  Peart 
saw  her  no  more. 

The  man  who  led  Elizabeth  from  the  company  took 
her  into  the  family  for  whom  they  adopted  her,  and  in- 
troduced her  to  her  parents,  brothers  and  sisters  in  the 
Indian  style,  who  received  her  very  kindly,  and  made 
a  grevious  lamentation  over  her  according  to  custom. 
After  she  had  been  with  them  two  days,  the  whole  family 
left  her  halvltation  and  went  about  two  miles  to  fort 
Slusher,  where  they  staid  several  days :  this  fort  is  about 
one  mile  from  Niagara  falls. 

As  she  was  much  indisposed,  the  Indians  were  detained 
several  days  for  her ;  but  as  they  cared  little  for  her,  she 
was  obliged  to  lie  on  the  damp  ground,  which  prevented 
her  speedy  recovery.  As  soon  as  her  disorder  abated  of 
its  violence,  they  set  olf  in  a  bark  ciuioe  which  they  had 
provided  intending  for  buffaloe  creek;  and  as  they  went 
slowly,  they  had  an  opportunity  of  taking  some  fish. 


' 


^, 


/ 


. 


( 111 ) 

When  they  arrived  at  the  place  of  their  intended  set- 
tlement, they  went  on  shore  and  built  an  house. 

A  few  days  after  they  came  to  this  new  settlement, 
they  returned  with  Elizabeth  to  fort  Slusher,  when  she 
was  told  her  child  must  be  taken  away  from  her;  this 
was  truly  afflicting,  but  all  remonstrances  were  in  vain. 

From  fort  Slusher  she  travelled  on  foot,  carrying  her 
child  to  Niagara,  it  being  eighteen  miles,  and  in  sultry 
weather,  rendered  it  a  painful  addition  to  the  thoughts 
of  parting  with  her  tender  offspring.  The  intent  of  their 
journey  was  to  obtain  provisions,  and  their  stay  at  the 
fort  was  of  several  days  continuance.  Capt.  Powel  af- 
forded her  an  asylum  in  his  house. 

The  Indians  took  the  child  from  her  and  went  with  it 
across  the  river  to  adopt  it  into  the  family  they  had  as- 
signed for  it,  notwithstanding  captain  Powel,  at  his  wife's 
request,  interceded  that  it  might  not  be  removed  from 
its  mother;  but  as  it  was  so  young,  they  returned  it  to 
the  mother  after  its  adoption,  until  it  should  be  conv^- 
ient  to  send  it  to  the  family  under  whose  protection  it 
was  to  be  placed. 

Obtaining  the  provision  and  other  necessaries  they 
came  to  Niagara  to  trade  for,  they  returned  to  fort  Slusher 
on  foot,  from  whence  they  embarked  in  their  canoes. 
It  being  near  the  time  of  planting,  they  used  much  ex- 
pedition in  this  journey. 

The  labour  and  drudgery  in  a  famil}'  falling  to  the 
shjire  of  the  women,  Elizabeth  had  to  assist  the  squaw 
in  preparing  the  ground  and  planting  corn. 

Their  provision  being  scant  they  suffered  much,  and 
as  their  dependence  for  a  suflicient  supply  until  the 
gp.thering  their  crop,  was  on  what  they  should  receive 


(  112  ) 

from  the  fort,  they  were  under  the  necessity  of  making 
a  second  journey  thither. 

They  were  two  days  on  the  road  at  this  time.  A  small 
distance  before  they  came  to  the  fort  they  took  her  child 
from  her,  and  sent  it  to  its  destined  family,  and  it  was 
several  months  before  she  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
it  again.  After  being  taken  from  her  husband,  to  lose 
her  darling  infant,  was  a  severe  stroke:  she  lamented 
her  condition  and  wept  sorely,  for  which  one  of  the 
Indians  inhumanly  struck  her.  Her  Indian  father 
seemed  a  little  moved  to  behold  her  so  distressed  ;  and 
in  order  to  console  her,  assured  her  they  would  bring  it 
back  again,  but  she  saw  it  not  until  the  spring  following. 

After  they  had  disposed  of  their  peltries,  they  returned 
to  their  habitation  by  the  same  route  which  they  had 
come. 

With  a  heart  oppressed  with  sorrow,  Elizabeth  trod 
back  her  steps,  mourning  for  her  lost  infant,  for  this 
idea  presented  itself  continually  to  her  mind ;  but  as  she 
experiened  how  fruitless,  nay  how  dangerous,  solicita- 
tions in  behalf  of  her  child  were,  she  dried  her  tears  and 
pined  in  secret. 

Soon  after  they  had  reached  their  own  habitation 
Elizabeth  Peart  was  again  afflicted  with  sickness.  At 
the  first  they  sliewed  some  attention  to  her  complaints, 
but  as  she  did  not  speedily  recover  so  as  to  be  able  to 
work,  they  discontinued  every  attention,  and  built  a 
small  hut  by  the  side  of  the  corn  field,  placing  her  in  it 
to  mind  the  corn.  In  this  lonely  condition  she  saw  a 
white  man,  who  had  been  made  prisoner  among  the 
Indians.  He  informed  her  that  her  child  was  released 
and  with  the  white  people.  This  information  revived 
her  drooping  spirits,  and  a  short  time  after  she  recovered 


v> 


■ 


(  113  ) 

of  her  indisposition,  but  her  employment  still  continued 
of  attending  the  corn  until  it  was  ripe  for  gathering, 
which  she  assisted  in.  When  the  harvest  was  over,  they 
permitted  her  to  return  and  live  with  them. 

A  time  of  plenty  now  commenced,  and  they  lived  as 
if  they  had  sufficient  to  last  the  year  through,  faring 
plentiously  every  day. 

A  drunken  Indian  came  to  the  cabin  one  day,  and  the 
old  Indian  woman  complaining  to  him  of  Elizabeth,  his 
behaviour  exceedingly  terrified  her;  he  stormed  like  a 
fury,  and  at  length  struck  her  a  violent  blow  which  laid 
her  on  the  ground  ;  he  then  began  to  pull  her  about  and 
abuse  her  much,  when  another  of  the  women  interposed, 
and  rescued  her  from  further  suffering.  Such  is  the 
shocking  effect  of  spirituous  liquor  on  these  people,  it 
totally  deprives  them  both  of  sense  and  humanity. 

A  tedious  winter  prevented  them  from  leaving  their 
habitation,  and  deprived  her  of  the  pleasure  of  hearing 
often  from  her  friends,  who  were  very  much  scattered ; 
but  a  prisoner,  who  had  lately  seen  her  husband,  in- 
formed her  of  his  being  much  indisposed  at  the  Genesee 
river,  which  was  ujjwards  of  one  hundred  miles  distance. 
On  receiving  this  intelligence,  she  stood  in  need  of  much 
consolation,  but  had  no  source  of  comfort,  except  in  her 
own  bosom. 

Near  the  return  of  spring  their  provision  failing,  they 
were  compelled  to  go  off  to  the  fort  for  a  fresh  supply, 
having  but  a  small  portion  of  corn  which  they  allow- 
anced out  once  each  day. 

Through  snow  and  severe  frost  they  went  for  Niagara, 
suffering  much  from  the  excessive  cold.  And  when 
they  came  within  a  few  miles  of  the  fort,  whicli  they 
were  four  days  in  accomplishing,  they  struck  up  a  small 


(  114  ) 


If 


I 


I 


f 

I 

3 


wigwam  for  some  of  the  family  with  the  prisoners  to 
live  in,  until  the  return  of  the  warriors  from  the  fort. 

As  soon  as  capt.  Powell's  wife  heard  that  the  young 
child's  mother  had  come  with  the  Indians,  she  desired 
to  see  her,  claiming  some  relationship  in  the  Indian 
way,  as  she  had  also  been  a  prisoner  among  them.  They 
granted  her  request,  and  Elizabeth  was  accordingly  in- 
troduced, and  informed  that  her  husband  was  returned 
to  the  fort,  and  there  was  some  expectation  of  his 
release.  The  same  day  Benjamin  Peart  came  to  see  his 
wife,  but  could  not  be  permitted  to  continue  with  her, 
as  the  Indians  insisted  on  her  going  back  with  them  to 
their  cabbin,  which,  as  has  been  related,  was  some  miles 
distant. 

Elizabeth  Peart  was  not  allowed  for  some  days  to  go 
from  the  cabbin,  but  a  white  family  who  had  bought 
her  child  from  Indians  to  whom  it  had  been  presented, 
offered  the  party  with  whom  Elizabeth  was  confined  a 
bottle  of  rum  if  they  would  bring  her  across  the  river 
to  her  child,  which  they  did,  and  delighted  the  fond 
mother  with  this  happy  meeting,  as  she  had  not  seen  it 
for  the  space  of  eight  months. 

She  was  permitted  to  stay  with  the  family  where  her 
child  was  for  two  days,  when  she  returned  with  the  In- 
dians to  their  cabbin.  After  some  time  she  obtained 
a  further  permission  to  go  to  the  fort,  where  she  had 
some  needle  work  from  the  white  people,  which  afforded 
her  a  plea  for  often  visiting  it.  At  length  capt.  Powell's 
wife  prevailed  with  them  to  suffer  her  to  continue  a  few 
days  at  her  house,  and  work  for  her  family  which  was 
granted.  At  the  expiration  of  the  time,  upon  the  com- 
ing of  the  Indians  for  her  to  return  with  them,  she 
pleaded  indisposition,  and  by  this  means  they  were 
repeatedly  dissuaded  from  taking  her  with  them. 


(  115  ) 

As  the  time  of  planting  drew  nigh,  she  made  use  of 
a  little  address  to  retard  her  departure  ;  having  a  small 
swelling  on  her  neck  she  applied  a  poultice,  which  led 
the  Indians  into  a  belief  that  it  was  improper  to  remove 
her,  and  they  consented  to  come  again  for  her  in  two 
weeks. 

Her  child  was  given  up  to  her  soon  after  her  arrival 
at  the  fort,  where  she  lodged  at  capt.  Powell's  and  her 
husband  came  fre<iuently  to  visit  her,  which  was  a  great 
satisfaction,  as  her  trials  in  their  separation  had  been 
many. 

At  the  time  appointed  some  of  the  Indians  came 
again,  but  she  still  pleaded  indisposition,  and  had  con- 
fined herself  to  her  bed.  One  of  the  women  interrogated 
her  very  closely,  but  did  not  insist  upon  her  going  back. 
Thus  several  months  elapsed,  she  contriving  delays  as 
often  as  they  came. 

When  the  vessel  which  was  to  take  the  other  five, 
among  whom  were  her  husband  and  child,  was  ready 
to  sail,  the  officers  at  Niagara  concluded  she  might  also 
go  with  them,  as  they  saw  no  reasonable  objection,  and 
they  doubted  not  but  it  was  in  their  power  to  satisfy 
those  Indians  who  considered  her  as  their  property. 

Abner  Gilbert,  another  of  the  captives,  when  the  com- 
pany had  reached  the  Indian  town  within  three  miles 
of  the  Niagara  fort,  Avas,  with  Elizabeth  Gilbert  the 
younger,  separated  from  the  rest  about  the  latter  part  of 
the  fifth  month,  1780,  and  were  both  adopted  into  John 
Huston's  family,  wht)  was  of  the  Cayuga  nation.  After 
a  stay  of  three  days  at  or  near  the  settlement  of  these 
Indians,  they  removed  to  a  place  near  the  Great  Falls, 
which  is  about  eighteen  miles  distant  from  the  fort,  and 
loitered  here  three  days  more  ;   they  then  crossed  the 


(  116  ) 


r 


I 


river,  and  settled  near  its  banks,  clearing  a  piece  of  land 
and  prepared  it  by  the  hoe  for  planting.  Until  they 
could  gather  their  corn  their  dependance  was  entirely 
upon  the  fort. 

After  the  space  of  three  weeks  they  packed  up  their 
moveables,  which  they  generally  carry  with  them  in 
their  rambles,  and  went  down  the  river  to  get  provisions 
at  liutlersbury,  a  small  village  built  by  col.  Butler  and 
is  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  to  Niagara  fort.  They 
staid  one  night  at  the  village,  ol)serving  great  caution 
that  none  of  the  white  people  should  converse  with  the 
prisoners.  Next  day,  after  transacting  their  business, 
they  returned  to  the  settlement,  and  continued  there  but 
about  one  week,  when  it  was  concluded  they  must  go 
again  for  Butlersbury ;  after  they  had  left  their  habita- 
tion a  small  distance  the  head  of  the  family  met  with 
his  brother,  and  as  they  are  very  ceremonious  in  such 
interviews,  the  place  of  meeting  was  their  rendezvous 
for  the  day  and  night.  In  the  morning  the  family,  with 
the  brother  before  mentioned,  proceeded  for  Butlersbury, 
and  reached  it  before  night.  They  went  to  the  house  of 
an  Englishman,  one  John  Seccord,  who  was  stiled 
brother  to  the  chief  of  the  family,  having  lived  with  him 
some  time  before. 

After  some  deliberation  it  was  agreed  that  Elizabeth 
Gilbert  should  continue  in  this  family  till  sent  for;  this 
was  an  agreeable  change  to  her. 

Abner  returned  with  them  to  the  settlement ;  his 
employ  being  to  fence  and  secure  the  corn  patch ;  some- 
times he  had  plenty  of  provisions  but  was  often  in  Avant. 

The  mistress  of  the  family  one  day  intending  for 
Butlersbury,  ordered  Abner  to  prepare  to  go  with  her; 
but  she  had  not  gone  far  before  she  sent  him  back. 


(  117  ) 

Notwithstanding  he  had  long  been  inured  to  frequent 
disappointments,  lie  was  much  mortified  at  returning, 
as  he  expected  to  have  seen  his  sister.  When  the  woman 
came  home  she  gave  him  no  information  about  her,  and 
all  inquiries  on  his  part  would  have  been  fruitless. 

The  place  they  had  settled  at  served  for  a  dwelling 
until  fall,  and  as  it  was  not  very  far  distant  from  the 
fort,  by  applying  for  jirovisions,  they  were  not  much 
distressed  between  the  failing  of  their  old  crop  and  the 
gathering  of  the  new  one,  as  those  who  lived  at  a  greater 
distance. 

In  the  fall  John  Huston,  the  head  of  the  family,  went 
out  hunting,  and  in  his  return  caught  cold  from  his  care- 
less manner  of  lying  in  the  wet,  and  thereby  lost  the 
use  of  his  limbs  for  a  long  time.  On  being  informed  of 
his  situation,  the  family  moved  to  the  place  where  he 
was;  they  fixed  a  shelter  over  him  (as  he  was  unable  to 
move  himself)  and  continued  here  about  a  month;  l;)ut 
as  it  was  remote  from  any  settlement,  and  they  had  to 
go  often  to  the  fort  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  they  con- 
cluded to  return  to  their  own  habitation.  Abner,  the 
Indian  man,  and  some  of  the  women  carried  the  cripple 
in  a  blanket  about  two  miles ;  this  was  so  hard  a  task, 
they  agreed  to  put  up  a  small  house  and  wait  for  his 
recovery:  but  not  long  after  they  had  an  opportunity  of 
conveying  him  on  horse-back  to  the  landing,  about  nine 
miles  above  the  fort.  As  this  was  their  j)lantation  and 
the  time  of  gathering  their  crops,  they  took  in  their 
corn,  which,  as  has  been  before  observed,  is  the  business 
of  the  women.  Then  they  changed  their  quarters,  car- 
rying the  lame  Indian  as  before  in  a  blanket,  down  to 
the  river  side,  when  they  went  on  board  canoes,  and 


(  118  ) 

crost  the  river  in  order  to  get  to  their  hunting-ground, 
where  they  usually  spend  the  winter. 

Abner  Gill)ert  lived  a  dronish  Indian  life,  idle  and 
poor,  having  no  other  emi)loy  than  the  gathering  hickory 
nuts;  and  although  young,  his  situation  was  very  irk- 
some. 

As  soon  as  the  family  came  to  the  hunting  ground, 
they  patched  up  a  slight  hut  for  their  residence,  and 
employed  themselves  in  hunting.  They  took  Abner 
along  with  them  in  one  of  their  tours,  but  they  were 
then  unsuccessful,  taking  nothing  but  racoons  and  por- 
cupines. 

The  crops  of  Indian  corn  proving  too  scant  a  })ittance 
for  tlie  winter;  AVmer,  on  this  account,  had  some  agree- 
able emplo} ,  which  was  to  visit  the  fort,  and  secure  a 
supply  of  provisions,  which  continued  to  be  his  employ- 
ment for  the  remainder  of  the  season. 

In  the  spring  John  Huston,  the  Indian  who  had  been 
lame  the  whole  winter,  recovered,  and  unhappily  had  it 
in  his  power  to  obtain  a  supply  of  rum,  which  he  fre- 
quently drank  to  excess;  and  always  when  thus  de- 
bauched was  extravagantly  morose,  (piarreling  with  the 
women  who  were  in  the  family,  and  at  lengtli  left  tliem. 
Soon  after  his  departure  the  family  moved  about  forty 
miles,  near  bull'alo  creek,  which  empties  its  waters  into 
lake  Erie.  At  this  })la('e  Abner  heard  of  his  sister 
Rebecca  Gilbert,  who  still  remained  in  captivity  not  far 
from  his  new  habitation.  This  was  their  summer  resi- 
dence, they  therefore  undertook  to  clear  a  piece  of  land, 
in  which  they  put  corn,  pum})kins  and  scjUMshes. 

Abner,  having  no  useful  em})loy,  amused  himself  with 
catching  fish  in  the  lake,  and  furnished  the  family  with 
frequent  messes  of  various  kinds,  which  they  eat  with- 


( 119 ) 

out  bread  or  salt;  for  the  distnnce  of  this  settlement 
from  the  fort  prevented  them  from  obtaining  provisions 
so  frequently  as  necessary.  Capt.  John  Powell  and 
Tliomas  Peart  (the  latter  had  by  this  time  obtained  his 
release  from  the  Indians)  and  several  others  came 
among  the  Indian  settlements  with  provisions  and  hoes 
for  them.  The  account  of  their  coming  soon  spread 
amongst  the  Indians.  The  chiefs  of  every  tribe  came^ 
bringing  with  them  as  many  little  sticks  as  there  were 
persons  in  their  tribe,  to  express  the  number,  in  order 
to  obtain  a  just  proportion  of  the  provision  to  be  dis- 
tril)uted.  They  are  said  to  be  unacquainted  with  any 
other  power  of  explaining  numbers  than  by  this  simple 
hieroglyphic  mode. 

It  was  upwards  of  a  year  since  Abncr  had  been  parted 
from  his  relations,  and  as  he  had  not  seen  his  brotlier 
Thomas  Peart  in  that  space  of  time,  this  unexpected 
meeting  gave  him  great  joy,  but  it  was  of  short  dura- 
tion, as  they  were  forced  to  leave  him  behind.  During 
the  corn  season  he  was  employed  in  tending  it,  and  not 
being  of  an  impatient  disposition  he  bore  his  captivity 
without  repining. 

In  the  seventh  month,  1781,  the  family  went  to  But- 
lersbury,  wlien  col.  IJutler  treated  with  the  woman  who 
was  the  head  of  this  family  for  the  release  of  Abner, 
which  she  at  length  consented  to,  on  receiving  some 
presents,  but  said  he  must  first  return  with  her. and  she 
would  deliver  him  up  in  twenty  days.  Tpon  their 
return,  she  gave  Abner  the  agreeal)le  information  that 
he  was  to  be  given  up.  This  added  a  spur  to  his  indus- 
try and  made  his  labor  light. 

Some  days  before  the  time  agreed  on,  they  proceeded 
for  Butlersbury,  and  went  to  John  Seeord's  where  his 


(  120  ) 


r:. 

It: 

II 

■ 


sister  Elizabeth  Gilbert  had  been  from  the  time  men- 
tioned in  the  former  part  of  this  narrative. 

Abner  was  discharged  by  the  Indians  soon  after  his 
arrival  at  the  English  village,  and  John  Secord  permitted 
him  to  live  in  his  family  with  his  sister.  With  this 
family  they  continued  two  weeks,  and  as  they  were 
under  the  care  of  the  English  officers,  they  were  per- 
mitted to  draw  cloathing  and  provisions  from  the  king's 
stores. 

Afterwards  Benjamin  Peart  and  his  brother  Thomas, 
who  were  both  released,  came  over  for  their  brother  and 
sister  at  John  Secord's,  and  went  with  them  to  capt. 
Powell's  in  order  to  be  nearer  the  vessel  they  were  to  go 
in  to  Montreal. 

The  next  of  the  family  who  comes  within  notice  is 
Elizabeth  Gill^ert  the  sister.  From  the  time  of  her  be- 
in^  first  introduced  by  the  Indian  into  the  family  of 
John  Hecord,  who  was  one  in  whom  he  placed  great 
conlidonce.  She  was  under  the  necessity  of  having  new 
cloaths,  as  those  she  had  brought  from  home  were  much 
"vorn.  Her  situation  in  the  family  where  she  was 
placed  was  comfortable.  After  a  few  days  residence  with 
them  she  discovered  where  the  young  child  was,  that 
had  some  time  l)efbre  been  taken  from  its  mother  Eliza- 
beth Peart,  as  before  mentioned ;  and  herself,  together 
with  John  Secord's  wife  with  whom  she  lived,  and  ('apt. 
Fry's  wife  went  to  see  it,  in  order  to  purchase  it  from  the 
Indian  woman  who  had  it  under  her  care;  but  they 
could  not  then  prevail  with  her,  thougli  some  time  after 
Capt.  Fry's  wife  i)urchased  it  for  thirteen  dollars.  Whilst 
among  the  Indians  it  had  been  for  a  long  time  indis- 
posed, and  in  a  lingering  distressing  situation ;  l)ut  under 
its  present  kind  j)rotectrets,  who  treated  the  child  as  her 
own,  it  soon  recruited. 


i 


(  121  )  ■ 

Elizabeth  Gilbert  jun.  lived  very  a«i;reeably  in  John 
Secord's  family  rather  more  than  a  year,  and  became  so 
fondly  attached  to  her  benefactors,  that  she  usually  stiled 
the  mistress  of  the  house  her  mamma.  During  her  resi- 
dence here,  her  brother  Abner  and  Thomas  Peart  came 
several  times  to  visit  her. 

The  afflicting  loss  of  her  father,  to  whom  she  was 
afi'ectionately  endeared,  and  the  separation  from  her 
mother,  whom  she  had  no  expectation  of  seeing  again, 
was  a  severe  trial,  although  moderated  by  the  kind  at- 
tention shewn  her  by  the  family  in  which  she  lived. 

John  Secord  having  some  business  at  Niagara,  took 
Betsy  with  him,  where  she  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
six  of  her  relations  who  had  been  captives,  but  were 
most  of  them  released :  This  happy  meeting  made  the 
trip  to  the  fort  a  very  agreeable  one.  She  staid  with  them 
all  night,  and  then  returned. 

Not  long  after  this  visit,  Col.  Butler  and  John  Secord 
sent  for  the  Indian  who  claimed  Elizabeth  as  his  proj)- 
erty,  and  when  he  arrived  they  made  overtures  to  i)ur- 
chase  her,  Init  he  declared  he  would  not  sell  his  own 
flesh  and  blood,  for  thus  they  style  those  whom  they 
have  adopted.  They  then  had  recourse  to  j^resenls, 
which,  overcoming  his  scruples,  they  obtained  lier  dis- 
charge; after  which  she  remained  two  weeks  at  liutlers- 
bury,  and  then  went  to  her  mother  at  Montreal. 

Having  given  a  ))rief  relation  of  the  hap{)y  release  and 
meeting  of  such  of  the  captives  as  had  returned  from 
among  the  Indians,  excepting  Thomas  Peart,  whose 
narrative  is  deferred,  as  he  was  exerting  his  endeavours 
for  the  benefit  of  his  sister  and  cousin  who  still  remained 
behind. 


.1? 


(  122  ) 

It  may  not  be  improper  to  return  to  the  mother,  who 
with  several  of  her  children  were  at  jNIontreal.  The 
nurse-child  which  they  had  taken,  as  related  in  the  for- 
mer part  of  this  account,  dying,  was  a  considerable  loss 
to  them,  as  they  could  not,  even  by  their  utmost  indus- 
try, gain  as  much  any  other  way. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  IT-Sl,  col.  Johnson,  Capt.  Powell, 
and  some  other  officers  came  to  Montreal  uj)on  l)usiness, 
and  were  so  kind  in  their  remembrance  of  the  family, 
as  to  inquire  after  them,  and  to  make  them  some  pres- 
ents, congratulating  the  mother  on  the  happy  release- 
ment  of  so  many  of  her  children.  They  encouraged  her 
with  the  information  of  their  agreement  with  the  In- 
dians, for  the  releasement  of  her  daughter  Rebecca,  ex- 
pecting that  she  was  by  that  time  at  Niagara ;  but  in  this 
opinion  they  were  mistaken,  as  the  Indian  family  who 
adopted  her,  valued  her  two  high  to  be  easib'  ])re vailed 
with,  and  it  was  a  long  time  after  this  before  she  was 
given  u]). 

Elizabeth  Gilbert  and  her  daughters  took  in  cloaths  to 
wash  for  their  sujjport,  and  being  industrious  and  care- 
ful, it  afforded  them  a  tolerable  subsistence. 

Jesse  Gilbert  obtained  employ  at  his  trade  as  a  Cooper, 
which  yielded  a  welcome  addition  to  their  stock. 

Elizabeth  Gilbert  sud'ered  no  opportunity  to  pass  her, 
of  incpiiring  al)()ut  her  friends  and  relations  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  had  the  satisfaction  of  being  informed  by  one 
who  came  from  the  southward,  that  friends  of  Philadel- 
phia had  l)een  very  assiduous  in  their  endeavours  to 
gain  information  where  their  family  was,  and  had  sent 
to  the  different  meetings,  desiring  them  to  inform  them- 
selves of  the  situation  of  the  captivated  family,  and,  if  in 
their  ])ower,  afford  them  such  relief  as  they  might  need. 


(  123  ) 

It  gave  her  great  pleasure  to  hear  of  this  kind  sympa- 
thizing rememhrance  of  tlieir  friends,  and  it  would  have 
])een  essentially  serviceable  to  them,  could  they  have 
reduced  it  to  a  certainty. 

Dehorah  Jones,  adaughter  of  Abraham  Wing,  afriend, 
sent  for  Elizabeth  Gilbert  in  order  to  attend  her  as  a 
nurse;  but  her  death,  which  was  soon  after,  frustrated 
the  jirospectshe  had  of  an  agreeable  place,  as  this  woman 
was  bettor  grounded  in  friends  })rincii)les  than  most  she 
liad  met  with  ;  which  circumstance  united  them  in  the 
ties  of  a  close  friendsliip :  And  as  Elizabeth  Gilbert  had 
received  manv  civilities  and  favours  from  her,  her  death 
was  doubly  alllicting  to  their  family. 

A  person  who  came  from  Crown- Point,  informed  her 
that  Benjamin  Gilbert,  a  son  of  the  deceased  by  his  first 
wife,  had  come  thither  in  order  to  be  of  what  service  he 
could  to  the  family,  and  had  desired  him  to  make  in- 
quiry wiiere  they  were,  and  in  what  situation,  and  send 
him  the  earliest  information  possible. 

A  second  agreeable  intelligence  she  received  from  Nia- 
gara, from  a  young  woman  who  came  from  thence,  who 
informed  her  that  her  daughter  Rebecca  was  given  up 
to  the  English,  by  the  Indians.  This  information  nmst 
have  ])een  very  pleasing,  as  their  expectations  of  her  re- 
lease were  but  faint;  the  Indian,  with  whom  she  lived, 
considering  her  as  her  own  child. 

It  was  not  long  after  this,  that  Thomas  Peart,  Rebecca 
Gilbert,  and  their  cousin  Jienjamin  Gilbert  came  to  Mon- 
treal to  the  rest  of  the  family.  This  meeting,  after  such 
scenes  of  sorrow  as  they  had  experienced,  was  more  com- 
pletely happy  than  can  be  expressed. 

Rellection,  if  indulged,  will  steadily  point  out  a  })ro- 
tecting  arm  of  power  to  have  ruled  the  varied  storms 


■■ 


i 


ih.\ 


li 


(  124  ) 

which  often  threatened  the  family  with  destruction  on 
their  passage  through  the  wilderness,  under  the  controul 
of  the  fiercest  enemies,  and  preserved  and  restored  them 
to  each  other,  although  separated  among  different  tribes 
and  nations.  This  so  great  a  favour,  cannot  be  con- 
sidered by  them  but  with  the  warmest  emotions  of  grati- 
tude to  the  great  Author. 

Rebecca  Gilbert  and  Benjamin  Gilbert,  junr.  were  sep" 
arated  from  their  friends  and  connexions  at  a  place  called 
the  Five  Mile  Meadows,  which  was  said  to  be  that  dis- 
tance from  Niagara.  Tlie  Seneca  king's  daughter,  to 
whom  they  were  allotted  in  the  distribution  of  the  cap- 
tives, took  them  to  a  small  hut  where  her  father  Sian- 
gorochti,  his  queen,  and  the  rest  of  the  family  were, 
eleven  in  number.  Upon  the  reception  of  the  prisoners 
into  the  family,  there  was  much  sorrow  and  weeping,  as 
is  customary  upon  such  occasions,  and  the  higher  in 
favour  the  adopted  prisoners  are  to  be  placed,  the  greater 
lamentation  is  made  over  them. 

After  three  days  the  family  removed  to  a  place  called 
the  landing,  on  the  banks  of  Niagara  river.  Here  they 
continued  two  days  more,  and  then  two  of  the  women 
went  with  the  captives  to  Niagara,  to  procure  cloathing 
from  the  king  s  stores  for  them,  and  })ermitted  them  to 
ride  on  horse  back  to  fort  Slusher,  which  i.s  about  eigh- 
teen miles  distant  from  Niagani.  fort.  On  this  journey 
they  had  a  sight  of  the  great  falls  of  Niagara. 

During  a  stay  of  six  days  at  fort  Slusher,  the  British 
officers  and  vHhers  used  their  utmost  endeavours  to  pur- 
chase tlietii  of  the  Indians;  but  the  Indian  king  said  he 
would  hv    p'^ri  v;ith  them  for  one  thousand  dollars. 

'\']<y  V  laui  vvi'O  claimed  Elizabeth  Peart,  came  to  the 
fori  .    4    iK'i  .it  this  time,  and  although  siie  was  very 


I 


(  125  ) 

weakly  and  indispose*],  it  was  an  agreeable  opportunity 
to  them  both  of  conversjing  with  each  other,  but  they 
were  not  allowed  to  he  frequently  together,  lest  they 
should  increase  each  others  discontent. 

Rebecca  being  drest  in  the  Indian  manner,  appeared 
very  different  from  what  she  had  been  accustomed  to; 
short  clothes,  leggings,  and  a  gold  laced  hat. 

From  Niagara  fort  they  went  about  eighteen  miles 
above  the  falls  to  fort  Erie,  a  garrison  of  the  English, 
and  then  continued  their  journey  about  four  miles  fur- 
ther, up  Buffalo  creek,  and  pitched  their  tent.  At  this 
place  they  met  with  Rebecca's  father  and  mother  l)y 
adoption,  who  had  gone  before  on  horse  back.  They 
caught  some  fish  and  made  soup  of  them,  but  Rebecca 
could  eat  none  of  it,  as  it  was  dressed  without  salt,  and 
with  all  the  carelessness  of  Indians. 

This  spot  was  intended  for  their  planatation,  they 
therefore  began  to  clear  the  land  for  the  crop  of  Indian 
corn.  While  the  women  were  thus  eTnj)loyed,  the  men 
built  a  log  house  for  their  residence,  and  then  went  out 
a  hunting. 

Notwithstanding  the  family  they  lived  with,  was  of 
the  first  rank  among  the  Indians,  and  the  head  of  it 
styled  king,  they  were  under  the  necessity  of  labouring 
as  well  as  those  of  lower  rank,  although  they  often  had 
advantages  of  procuring  more  i)rovisi()ns  than  the  rest. 
This  family  raised  this  summer  about  one  hundrt'd 
skipple  of  Indian  corn  (a  skipple  is  about  three  pecks) 
ecjual  to  seventy-five  bushels. 

As  Rebecca  was  not  able  to  ])ursue  a  course  of  cqui\\ 
labour  with  the  other  women,  she  was  favoured  by  tliem 
by  often  being  sent  into  their  hut  to  prepare  something 
to  eat;  and  as  she  drest  their  provisions  after  the  English 


(  126  ) 


1^    f 


I 


method,  and  had  erected  an  oven  by  tlie  assistance  of 
the  other  women,  in  which  they  baked  their  bread,  their 
family  fared  more  agreeably  than  the  others. 

Benjamin  (iilbert,  jun.  was  considered  as  the  king's 
successor,  and  entirely  freed  from  restraint,  so  that  he 
even  began  to  l)e  delighted  with  his  manner  of  life ;  and 
had  it  not  ])een  for  the  frequent  counsel  of  his  fellow 
captive,  he  would  not  have  been  anxious  for  a  change. 

In  the  waters  of  the  lakes  there  are  various  kinds  of 
fish,  which  the  Indians  take  sometimes  with  spears;  but 
whenever  they  can  obtain  hooks  and  lines  they  prefer 
them. 

A  fish  ciilled  Ozoondah,  resembling  a  shad  in  shape, 
but  rather  thicker  and  less  bony,  with  which  lake  Erie 
abounded,  were  often  dressed  for  their  table,  and  were 
of  an  agreeable  taste,  weighing  from  three  to  four  pounds. 

They  drew  ])rovisions  this  summer  from  the  forts, 
which  frequently  induced  the  Indians  to  repair  thither. 
The  king,  his  daughter,  grand-daughter,  and  Rebecca 
went  together  upon  one  of  tliese  visits  to  fort  Erie,  where 
the  British  oilicers  entertained  them  with  a  rich  feast, 
and  so  great  a  })rofusi()n  of  wine,  that  the  Indian  king 
was  very  drunk  ;  and  as  he  had  to  manage  the  canoe  in 
their  return,  they  were  repeatedly  in  danger  of  being 
overset  amongst  the  rocks  in  the  lake. 

Rebecca  and  Benjamin  met  with  much  better  fare  than 
the  other  captives,  as  the  family  tliey  lived  with  were 
but  seldom  in  great  want  of  necessaries,  which  was  the 
only  advantage  they  enjoyed  beyond  the  rest  of  their 
tribe. 

lienjamin  Gil])ert,  as  a  badge  of  his  dignity,  woie  a 
silver  medal  pendant  from  his  neck. 


I 


I 


4 


(  127  ) 

The  king,  queen,  and  another  of  the  family,  together 
with  Rehecca  and  lier  cousin  Benjamin  set  off'  for  Nia- 
gara, going  as  far  as  fort  Hlu.slier  by  water,  from  whence 
they  proceeded  on  foot  carrying  th(ur  loads  on  their 
backs.  Their  business  at  the  fort  was  to  ol)tain  pro- 
visions, which  occasioned  them  frequently  to  visit  it,  as 
before  related. 

Rebecca  indulged  herself  with  the  pleasing  expecta- 
tion of  obtaining  iier  release,  or  at  least  permission  to 
remain  behind  among  the  whites;  but  in  both  these  ex- 
pectations she  was  disagreeabl}'  disappointed,  having  to 
return  again  with  her  captors ;  all  eti'orts  for  her  release 
being  in  vain.  Col.  Johnson's  housekeeper,  whose  re- 
peated acts  of  kindness  to  this  captivated  family  have 
bcFn  noticed,  made  her  some  acceptable  presents. 

As  they  had  procured  some  rum  to  carry  home  with 
them,  the  chief  was  freijuently  intoxicated,  and  always 
in  such  unhappy  fits  behaved  remarkably  foolish. 

On  their  return,  Thomas  Peart,  who  was  at  fort  Nia- 
gara, procured  for  Rebecca  an  horse  to  carry  her  as  far 
as  fort  Slusher,  where  they  took  boat  and  got  home  after 
a  stay  of  nine  days. 

Soon  after  their  return,  Rebecca  and  her  cousin  were 
seized  with  the  chill  and  fever,  which  held  them  for  near 
three  months.  During  their  indisposition  the  Indians 
were  very  kind  to  them  ;  and  as  their  strength  of  con- 
stitution alone,  could  not  check  the  i)rogress  of  the  dis- 
order, the  Indians  procured  some  herbs,  with  which  the 
patients  were  unac(iuainted,and  made  a  plentiful  decoc- 
tion ;  with  these  they  washed  them,  and  it  seemed  to 
afford  them  some  relief.  The  Indians  accounted  it  a 
sovereign  remedy. 


■1»»|<M— "I   1W 


m 


m 


I 


I  'i 


(  128  ) 

The  decease  of  her  father,  of  which  Rebecca  received 
an  account,  continued  her  in  a  drooping  way  a  consid- 
erable time  longer  than  she  would  otherwise  have  been. 

As  soon  as  she  recovered  her  health,  some  of  the  family 
again  went  to  Niagara,  and  Rebecca  was  permitted  to  be 
of  the  company.  They  staid  at  the  fort  about  two  weeks, 
and  col.  Johnson  exerted  himself  in  order  to  obtain  her 
release,  holding  a  treaty  witli  the  Indians  for  this  pur- 
pose ;  but  his  meditation  proved  fruitless :  she  had  there- 
fore to  return  with  many  an  heavy  step.  When  they 
came  to  lake  Erie,  where  their  canoe  was,  they  proceeded 
by  water.  While  in  their  boat  a  number  of  Indians  in 
another  canoe  came  towards  them,  and  informed  them 
of  the  death  of  her  Indian  father,  who  had  made  an  ex- 
pedition to  the  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  there 
wounded  by  the  militia,  and  afterwards  died  of  his 
wounds ;  on  which  occasion  she  was  under  the  necessity 
of  making  a  feint  of  sorrow,  and  weeping  aloud  with 
the  rest. 

When  they  arrived  at  their  settlement,  it  was  the 
time  of  gathering  their  crop  of  corn,  potatoes,  and 
pumpkins,  and  preserving  their  store  of  hickory-nuts. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  winter  some  British  of- 
ficers came  amongst  them,  and  staid  with  them  until 
spring,  using  every  endeavour  for  the  discharge  of  the 
two  captives,  but  still  unattended  with  success. 

iSome  time  after  this  another  British  ofticer,  attended 
by  Thomas  Peart,  came  witli  provision  and  hoes  for  the 
Indians.  It  aftbrded  them  great  happiness  to  enjoy  the 
satisfaction  of  each  others  conversation,  after  so  long  an 
absence. 

Rebecca  and  her  cousin  had  the  additional  pleasure 
of  seeing  her  brother  Abner,  who  came  with  the  family 


(  129  ) 


amongst  whom  he  hved,  to  settle  near  this  place ;  and 
as  they  had  not  seen  each  other  for  almost  twelve 
months,  it  i^roved  very  agreeable. 

Thomas  Peart  endeavoured  to  animate  his  sister,  by 
encouraging  her  with  the  hopes  of  speedily  obtaining 
her  liberty :  But  lier  hopes  were  often  disappointed. 

An  officer  among  the  British,  one  capt.  Latteridge, 
came  and  staid  some  tinie  with  them,  and  interested 
himself  on  behalf  of  the  prisoners,  nnd  appeared  in  a 
fair  way  of  obtaining  tbeir  enlargement;  but  being 
ordered  to  attend  his  regiment,  he  was  prevented  from 
further  attention  until  his  return  from  duty ;  and  after- 
wards was  connnanded  by  col.  Johnson  to  go  with  him 
to  Montreal,  on  business  of  importance,  which  effectual- 
ly barr(Ml  his  undertaking  any  thing  further  that  winter. 

It  afforded  her  many  pleasing  reflections  when  she 
heard  that  six  of  her  relatives  were  freed  from  their 
difficulties,  and  Tiiomas  Peart  visiting  her  again,  con- 
tributed, in  some  measure,  to  reanimate  her  with  fresh 
hopes  of  obtaining  her  own  freedom.  They  fixed  upon 
a  scheme  of  carrying  her  off  jjrivately  ;  but  when  they 
gave  time  for  a  full  reflection,  it  was  evidently  attended 
with  too  great  danger,  as  it  would  undoubtedly  have 
much  enraged  the  Indians,  and  perhaps  the  lives  of 
every  one  concerned  would  have  been  forfeited  by  such 
indiscretion. 

During  the  course  of  this  winter  she  suffered  many 
hardships  and  severe  disappointments,  and  being  with- 
out a  friend  to  unbosom  her  sorrows  to,  they  appeared 
to  increase  by  concealment;  l)ut  making  a  virtue  of 
necessity,  she  summoned  up  a  firmness  of  resolution, 
and  was  supported  under  her  discoungement  beyond 
her  own  expectations. 


(  130  ) 


m 


U-U 


If! 


i 


The  youth  and  inexperience  of  her  cousin  did  not 
allow  of  a  sufficient  confidence  in  him,  hut  she  had  often 
to  interest  herself  in  an  attention  to,  and  oversight  of, 
his  conduct;  and  it  was  in  some  measure  owing  to  this 
care,  that  he  retained  his  desires  to  return  amongst  his 
friends. 

Col.  Butler  sent  a  string  of  wampum  to  the  Indian 
chief,  who  immediately  called  a  number  of  the  other 
Indians  together  upon  this  occasion,  when  they  con- 
cluded to  go  down  to  Niagara,  where  they  understood 
the  design  of  the  treaty  was  for  the  freedom  of  the  re- 
mainder of  the  prisoners ;  for  especial  orders  were  issued 
by  general  llaldimand,  at  Quebec,  that  their  liberty 
should  l)e  obtained.  At  this  council  fire  it  was  agreed 
they  would  surrender  uj)  the  prisoners. 

When  they  returned  they  informed  Ilel)ecca  that  col. 
Butler  had  a  desire  to  see  her,  which  was  the  only  in- 
formation she  could  gain:  this  being  a  frequent  custom 
amongst  them  to  oiler  a  very  slight  surmise  of  their  in- 
tentions. 

After  this  the  whole  family  moved  about  six  miles  up 
lake  Erie,  where  they  staid  altout  two  months  to  gather 
their  annual  store  of  maple  sugar,  of  which  they  made 
a  considerable  quantity. 

As  soon  as  the  season  for  this  business  was  over,  they 
returned  to  their  old  settlement,  where  they  had  not  con- 
tinued long,  before  an  Indian  came  with  an  account  that 
an  astonishing  number  of  young  pigeons  might  be  pro- 
cured at  a  certain  place  by  falling  trees  that  were  tilled 
with  nests  of  young,  and  the  distance  was  computed  to 
be  about  fifty  miles:  this  information  delighted  the  sev- 
eral tribes;  they  speedily  joined  together,  young  and 
old,  from  different  parts,  and  with  great  assiduity  pur- 


\ 


(  131  ) 


d 
to 


r- 


sued  their  expedition,  and  took  abundance  of  the  young 
ones,  which  they  dried  in  the  sun  and  with  smoke,  and 
filled  several  bags  which  they  had  taken  with  them  for 
this  purpose.  Benjamin  Gilbert  was  permitted  to  ac- 
company them  in  this  excursion,  which  must  have  been 
a  curious  one  for  whole  tril)e8  to  be  engaged  in.  On  this 
rarety  they  lived  with  extravagance  for  some  time,  far- 
ing sumptuously  every  day. 

As  the  time  approached,  when  according  to  appoint- 
ment they  were  to  return  to  Niagara  and  deliver  up  the 
prisoners,  they  gave  llebecca  the  agreeable  information, 
in  order  to  allow  her  some  time  to  make  preparation. 
She  made  them  bread  for  their  journey  with  great  cheer- 
fulness. 

The  Indians,  to  the  numl)er  of  thirty,  attended  on  this 
occasion  with  the  two  captives.  They  went  as  far  as 
fort  .Slusher  in  a  bark  canoe.  It  was  several  clays  before 
they  reached  Niagara  fort,  as  they  went  slowly  on  foot. 
After  attending  at  col.  Butler's,  and  conferring  upon  this 
occasion,  in  consideration  of  some  valuable  presents 
made  them,  they  released  the  two  last  of  the  captives 
Rebecca  Gilbert,  and  Benjamin  Gilbert,  jun. 

As  speedily  as  they  were  enabled,  their  Indian  dress 
was  exchanged  for  the  more  customary  and  agreeable 
one  of  the  Europeans;  and  on  the  third  of  the  sixth 
month,  1782,  two  days  after  their  happy  release,  sailed 
for  Montreal. 

The  narrative  of  the  treatment  of  Thomas  Peart,  an- 
other of  the  family,  still  remains  to  be  niven. 

He  was  taken  along  the  westward  path  with  the  pris- 
oners before  mentioned,  viz.  .loseph,  Harah,  and  Benja- 
min Gilbert  jun. 


^^w<t»>« 


^g^i'qw^gri  i»>ii|u- 


(  132  ) 

Thomas  was  compelled  to  carry  a  heavy  load  of  the 
plunder  which  the  Indians  had  seized  at  their  farm. 
When  separated  from  the  rest,  they  were  usHured  they 
should  meet  together  again  in  four  days. 

The  first  day's  travel  was  in  an  exceeding  disagree- 
able path,  across  several  deep  brooks,  through  which 
Thomas  had  to  carry  Sarah  and  Benjamin  Gilbert,  jun. 
This  task  was  a  very  hard  one,  as  he  had  been  much  re- 
duced for  want  of  suflicient  nourishment. 

The  first  night  they  lodged  by  the  banks  of  Cayuga 
creek,  the  captives  being  tied  as  usual.  The  next  morn- 
ing they  took  a  venison,  and  this,  with. some  decayed 
corn  which  they  gathered  from  the  deserted  fields,  served 
them  for  sustenance.  Tliis  day's  journey  was  by  the 
side  of  Cayuga  creek,  until  they  came  to  a  steej)  hill, 
which  they  ascended  with  difliculty. 

When  night  came  on,  they  sought  a  wigwam  which 
had  been  deserted  j)r«!cipitately  on  general  Sullivan's 
march  against  the  inhabitants  of  these  i)arts. 

The  land  in  this  neighbourhood  is  excellent  for  cul- 
tivation, affording  very  good  i)asture. 

Thomas  Peart  assured  the  Indians,  that  he,  with  the 
other  ca})tives,  would  not  leave  them,  and  tlierelbre  re- 
quested the  favour  to  be  freed  from  their  confinement 
at  night;  but  one  of  them 'checked  his  recjuest,  by  say- 
ing he  could  not  sleep  if  the  cai)tives  were  suffered  to  be 
untied. 

Their  meat  being  all  exhausted,  Thomas  and  three 
Indians  went  near  three  miles  to  gather  more  decayed 
corn ;  and  this,  mouldy  as  it  was,  they  were  obliged  to 
eat,  it  being  their  only  food,  excepting  a  few  winter  tur- 
nii)s  which  they  met  with.  They  went  forwards  a  con- 
siderable distance  by  the  side  of  Cayuga  creek,  and  then 


\ 


I    ■ 


(  133  ) 


the 

re- 

lient 

pay- 
I)  be 

liree 
[yed 
to 
Itur- 
3on- 
Ihen 


with  much  difficulty  crossed  it;  immediatel}'  afterwards 
they  ascended  an  uncommon  miry  hill,  covered  with 
springs.  Goinjiover  this  mountain  they  missed  the  path, 
and  were  obliged  to  wade  very  heavily  through  the  water 
and  mire. 

In  the  close  of  the  daj'  they  came  to  a  fine  mea(h)w, 
where  they  agreed  to  continue  that  niglit,  having  no 
other  provisions  than  mouldy  Indian  corn  they  acci- 
dently  met  with  in  the  Indian  plantations,  wliich  had 
been  cut  down  and  left  on  the  ground  by  general  Sul- 
livan's army. 

Next  morning  they  set  forwards,  walking  leisurely  on, 
so  thattlie  company  who  went  by  the  other  path  might 
overtake  them,  and  frecjuently  stopped  for  them. 

When  night  approached,  they  came  to  a  large  creek 
where  some  Indians  were,  who  had  l)egun  to  prepare 
the  ground  for  i)lanting  corn.  At  this  ]»lace  they  staid 
two  nights,  and  being  to  indolent  to  procure  game  by 
hunting,  their  diet  was  still  very  poor,  and  their  strength 
much  exhausted,  so  tliat  they  became  impatient  of  wait- 
ing for  the  others,  which  was  their  intention  when  they 
first  stopped. 

After  travelling  till  near  noon,  they  made  a  short  stay, 
stripping  the  ])ark  off  a  tree,  and  then  painted,  in  their 
Indian  manner,  themselves  and  the  jjrisoners  on  tlie 
body  of  the  tree;  this  done,  they  set  up  a  stick  with  a 
s})lit  at  tli(^  toj),  in  whicli  thi-y  i)hi('(Ml  a  small  bush  of 
leaves,  and  leaned  the  stick  so  that  the  shadow  of  the 
leaves  should  fall  to  the  point  of  the  stick  where  it  was 
fixed  in  the  ground;  by  wliich  means  the  others  would 
be  directed  in  the  time  of  day  when  they  left  the  place. 
Here  they  separated  the  prisoners  again,  those  to 
whom  Thomas  Peart  and  Joseph  Gilbert  were  alloted 
0 


"tmmmjm 


■!■■■■  — 


Iltt 


{■ 


(  134  ) 

went  westward  out  of  the  path,  but  Sarah  Gilbert  and 
Benjamin  Gilbert  jun.  with  one  Indian,  continued  in  the 
path.  This  was  very  distressing  to  Sarah  to  be  torn 
from  her  relations  and  dei)rived  of  all  the  comforts  and 
even  necessaries  of  life.  These  two,  with  the  Indian 
who  had  the  care  of  them,  after  they  had  parted  with 
the  other  two  and  travelled  forward  a  few  miles,  came 
to  some  Indians  by  the  si<le  of  a  creek,  who  gave  them 
something  to  eat.  The  next  day  the  Indian  who  whs 
their  pilot  exerted  himself  to  obtain  some  provisions,  but 
his  endeavours  proved  fruitless,  they  therefore  suffered 
greatly.  At  night  the  Indian  asked  Sarah  if  she  had 
ever  eaten  horse-ilesh,  or  dogs;  she  replied,  she  had  not; 
he  then  further  surprised  her  l)y  asking  whether  she  had 
ever  eat  any  m;in's  llesh;  upon  her  exi)ressing  her  ab- 
horrence, he  rei)lied  that  he  should  be  under  the  neces- 
sity of  killing  the  boy,  for  he  could  not  procure  any 
deer.  This  threat,  although  perhaps  not  intended  to  be 
executed,  terrified  her  exceedingly.  He  hunted  with 
great  diligence,  leaving  the  captives  by  themselves,  and 
appeared  to  shudder  himself  at  what  he  had  threatened, 
willing  to  try  every  resourse;  but  notwithstanding  his 
exertions,  her  fears  i)revailed  in  a  very  great  degree. 
They  went  forward  slowly,  l)eing  very  wi-ak,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  their  distress  there  fell  a  very  heavy  rain,  and 
they  were  obliged  to  continue  in  it  as  they  were  without 
shelter.  In  this  reduced  situation  they  at  length  came 
to  one  of  the  huts  at  Canodosago,  where  they  dressed 
the  remains  of  their  mouldy  corn,  and  the  day  after  were 
joined  by  tiie  part  of  the  company  whom  they  had  left 
ten  days  l)efore. 

As  the  few  days  solitary  sufferings  of  Sarah  Gilbert 
had  been  before  unrelated,  the  foregoing  digression  from 


(  135  ) 


eCt 


the  narrative  of  Thomas  Peart's,  may  not  be  thought 
improper. 

To  return  to  the  two  who  were  separate*!  from  the 
path,  and  had  to  go  forwards  across  mountains  and  ral- 
lies, swamps  and  creeks. 

In  the  morning  thej^  eat  the  remainder  of  their  corn. 
Tlie  Indian?  then  cut  off  their  hair,  excepting  a  small 
round  touft  on  the  crown  of  the  head;  and,  after  paint- 
ing them  in  the  Indian  manner,  in  order  to  make  them 
appear  more  terrible,  they  took  from  them  their  hats, 
lieing  thus  obliged  to  travel  bare  headed  in  the  sun,  they 
were  seized  with  violent  head-achs;  and  this  added  to  a 
want  of  provisions,  was  truly  distressing. 

When  they  ai)]jroa('hed  the  Indijin  settlements,  the 
Indians  began  their  customary  who()i)ing  to  announce 
their  arrival  with  prisoners,  issuing  their  dismal  yells 
according  to  the  number  brought  in. 

After  some  short  time  an  Indian  came  to  them;  with 
him  they  held  a  discourse  concerning  the  prisoners,  and 
painted  them  afresh,  part  black,  and  })art  red,  as  a  dis- 
tinguishing mark.  When  this  ceremony  was  concluded, 
the  Indian  who  met  them  returned,  and  the  others  con- 
tinued their  route. 

As  tliey  were  not  far  from  the  Indian  towns,  they  soon 
saw  great  numbers  of  the  Indians  collecting  together, 
though  the  prisoners  were  ignorant  of  the  motives. 

When  they  came  up  to  this  disagreeable  company, 
the  Indian  who  first  met  them,  took  the  string  that  was 
about  Thomas  Peart's  neck  with  which  he  had  been  tied 
at  night,  and  held  him  whilst  a  stjuaw  stripped  off  his 
vest. 

Joseph  Gilbert  was  ordered  to  run  first,  but  being 
lame  and  indisposed,  could  only  walk.     The  clubs  and 


wm 


neapip 


wmm 


«  I 


m 


(  136) 

tomahawks  flew  so  thick,  that  he  was  sorely  bruised,  and 
one  of  the  tomahawks  struck  him  on  the  head  and 
brought  him  to  the  ground,  when  a  lad  of  about  fifteen 
years  old  run  after  him,  and,  as  he  lay,  would  undoubt- 
edly have  ended  him,  as  he  had  lifted  the  tomahawk 
for  that  purpose,  but  the  king's  son  sent  orders  not  to 
kill  him. 

After  him,  Tliomas  Peart  was  set  off;  he  seeing  the 
horrid  situation  of  his  brother,  was  so  terrified,  that  he 
did  not  recollect  the  Indian  still  kept  hold  of  the  string 
which  was  round  his  neck ;  but,  springing  forward  with 
great  force  and  swiftness,  he  pulled  the  Indian  over,  who, 
in  return,  when  he  recovered  his  feet,  beat  him  severely 
with  a  club.  The  lad  who  was  standing  with  a  toma- 
hawk near  Josejth  Gilbert,  as  he  pnssed  by  him,  threw 
his  tomahawk  with  great  dexterity,  and  would  certainly 
have  struck  him,  if  he  had  not  sprung  forwards  and 
avoided  the  weapon.  When  he  had  got  opposite  to  one 
of  their  huts,  they  pointed  for  him  to  take  shelter  there, 
where  Joseph  Gilbertcameto  him  as  soon  as  he  recovered. 
In  the  room  were  a  number  of  women  who  ai)peared 
very  sorrowful,  and  wept  aloud ;  this,  though  customary 
amongst  them,  still  added  to  the  terror  of  the  captives,  as 
they  imagined  it  to  be  no  other  than  a  preluilo  to  inevi- 
table destruction. 

Their  hair  cropt  close,  tlieir  bodies  bruised,  and  the 
blood  gushing  from  Josej)h  Gilbert's  wound,  rendered 
them  a  horrid  spectacle  to  each  otlier. 

After  the  lamentations  ceased,  one  of  them  asked 
Thomas  Peurt,  if  he  was  hungry;  he  replied,  he  was; 
they  then  told  him,  "you  eat  by  and  )>y."  They  im- 
mediately procured  some  victuals,  and  set  it  before  them, 
but  Joseph  Gilbert's  wounds  had  taken  away  his  appe- 
tite. 


(  137  ) 


An  officer,  who  was  of  the  French  families  of  Canada, 
came  to  them,  and  broujj;ht  a  negro  with  him  to  inter- 
pret. After  questioning  them,  he  concluded  to  write  to 
col.  Johnson,  at  Niagara,  relative  to  the  prisoners. 

The  Indians  advised  them  to  be  contented  with  their 
present  situation,  and  marry  amongst  them,  giving  every 
assurance  that  they  should  be  treated  with  the  utmost 
respect ;  but  these  conditions  were  inadmissable. 

After  this  Joseph  Gilbert  was  taken  from  his  })rother, 
as  related  in  the  narrative  of  his  sulferings. 

Thomas  Peart  continued  at  the  village  that  night,  and 
the  next  day  was  given  to  the  care  of  a  young  Indian, 
who  went  with  him  about  two  miles,  where  several  In- 
dians were  collected,  dressed  in  horrid  masks,  in  order, 
as  he  supposed,  to  make  sport  of  his  fears,  if  he  dis- 
covered any ;  he  therefore  guarded  against  being  sur- 
prised, and  when  they  observed  him  not  to  be  intimi- 
dated, they  permitted  him  to  return  again.  Not  long 
after  his  arrival  at  the  village,  capt.  Rowland  Monteur 
came  in,  who  gave  Thomas  Peart  some  account  how  the 
others  of  the  family  had  suffered,  and  told  him  that  he 
had  almost  killed  liis  mother  and  Jesse,  on  account  of 
Andrew  Harrigar's  making  his  escape.  He  had  come 
in  before  the  others,  in  order  to  procure  some  provisions 
for  the  company,  who  were  in  groat  need  of  it. 

A\'hen  the  Captain  returned,  Thomas  Peart  accom- 
panied him  part  of  the  way,  and  me  Ca})tain  advised 
him  to  be  cheerful  and  contented,  and  wtirk  fiiithful  for 
tlie  friend,  for  so  he  styled  the  Indian  under  whose  care 
Thomas  Peart  was  placed,  promising  him  that  if  he  com- 
plied, lie  should  shortly  go  to  Niagara. 

They  emjdoyed  him  in  choi)i)ing  for  several  days, 
having  i)revious  to  this  taken  the  string  from  his  neck, 
whicli  they  had  carefully  secured  him  with  every  nij^ht. 


mfmmmmmmm 


\ 


l! 


(  138  ) 

The  plantation  on  which  they  intended  to  fix  for  a 
summer  residence,  and  to  plant  their  crop,  of  corn,  was 
several  miles  down  the  Genesee  or  little  river.  Prior  to 
their  removing  with  the  family,  some  of  the  men  went 
thither  and  built  a  b':  aut,  which  was  expeditiously 
performed,  as  they  execraed  it  in  about  two  days,  when 
they  returned  to  their  old  habitation. 

Thomas  Peart  was  the  next  day  given  to  the  chiet 
Indian,  who  endeavoured  to  quiet  his  ap]>rehensions, 


assuring  him  he  shouIJ 


(li  ^■ 


.'.  ith  kind  treatment. 


The  Indian  manner  of  i^  ''  rem.irkably  dirty  and 
lousy;  and  although  the>  tluiriscivcf  disregard  tiicir 
filth,  yet  it  was  -..vtremtV  inortir  \  to  the  prisoners 
to  be  deprived  of  the  advari  >"...^  i,  '^Jennliness:  and 
this  was  by  no  means  among  the  nukti^;;  of  smaller 
difficulties. 

As  Thomas  Peart  had  l)oen  accustomed  to  industry, 
and  when  first  among  the  Indians  was  constantly  ex- 
erting himself,  either  in  tlioir  active  diversions  or  useful 
labours,  they  were  much  delighted  with  him.  When 
they  had  concluded  ujxjn  sending  him  to  the  family  he 
was  to  reside  with,  they  daubed  liim  afresh  with  tlieir 
red  paint.  He  was  tlien  taken  about  seven  miles,  where 
he  was  adopted  into  the  family,  and  styled  ''OclinusM," 
or  Uncle.  When  the  ceremon}'  of  adoption  was  per- 
formed, a  nunil)er  of  tlie  relatives  were  summoned 
together,  and  the  head  of  them  took  Thomas  Peart  into 
the  midst  of  the  ass^  ^ibly,  and  made  a  long  iuirrangue 
in  the  Indian  language.  After  this  he  was  taken  into 
the  house,  where  {he  women  wei)t  aloud  for  joy,  tliat 
the  place  of  a  deceased  relation  was  again  supplied. 

The  old  man,  wliose  jilaee  Thomas  Peart  was  to  fill, 
had  never  been  considered  by  his  family  as  possessed  of 


(  130  ) 


any  merit;  and,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  tlie  person 
adopted,  always  holds  in  their  estimation  the  merits  or 
demerits  of  the  deceased,  and  the  most  careful  conduct 
can  never  overcome  this  prejudice. 

As  soon  as  the  ceremony  of  adoption  at  this  place 
was  finished,  he  was  taken  hy  the  family  to  Nundow,  a 
town  on  the  Genesee  river.  The  head  of  tliis  faniily 
was  chief  or  king  of  the  Senecas.  But  before  Thomas 
was  fully  received  into  the  family,  there  was  a  second 
lamentation. 

Their  i)rovisions,  notwithstanding  it  was  a  season  of 
great  plenty,  was  often  deer's  guts,  dried  with  the  dung, 
and  all  1)oile(l  together,  which  they  consider  strong  and 
wholesome  food.  They  never  throw  away  any  })nrt  of 
the  game  they  take. 

Tliomas  Peart's  dress  was  entirely  in  the  Indian  st}  le, 
painted  and  ornamented  like  one  of  themselves,  though 
in  a  meaner  manner,  as  they  did  not  liold  him  high  in 
estimation  after  his  adoption. 

Greatly  discontented,  he  often  retired  into  tlie  Avoods, 
and  reflected  upon  his  unhappy  situation,  without 
ho])es  of  returning  to  his  relations,  or  ever  being  rescued 
from  ('!ij)tivity. 

He  continued  in  this  solitary  seclusion  about  five 
weeks,  when  tiieir  corn  was  mostly  consumed;  and  as 
their  dei)endence  for  a  fresh  su)>ply  was  on  Niagara 
fort,  they  concluded  to  go  thither,  but  at  first  they 
would  not  consent  tiuit  Thomas  should  acci)mj)iiny 
them ;  but  he  was  so  urgent,  they  at  length  consented, 
and  the  next  day  they  had  an  Indian  dance  i)r('i)  iiatory 
to  their  expedition. 

In  the  route  Thomas  Peart  got  a  deer,  which  was  an 
acceptable  ac(iuisition,  as  they  had  l)een  for  some  (hiys 


T 


\    i 


i 


II' 


(  140  ) 

without  any  meat,  and  their  corn  was  likewise  expended. 

When  they  came  within  two  miles  of  the  fort  they 
halted,  and  staid  there  until  morning. 

A  white  prisoner,  who  came  from  the  fort,  gave 
Thomns  Peart  a  ])articular  relation  of  his  fellow  cap- 
tives: this  was  the  first  account  he  had  of  them  since 
their  separation  at  the  Indian  towns.  As  soon  as  he 
came  to  the  fort,  he  applied  to  some  of  the  officers,  re- 
questing their  exertions  to  procure  Thomas's  liberty,  if 
possible;  but  he  was  disappointed,  as  nothing  could  be 
then  done  to  serve  him. 

He  eat  some  salt  provisions,  which,  as  he  had  tasted 
but  little  salt  since  his  captivity,  (although  pleasing  to 
his  i)alate)  affected  his  stomach,  it  being  difficult  for 
him  to  digest. 

As  he  was  to  return  with  the  Indians  in  about  a  week, 
it  was  very  distressing,  bein:.f  much  disgusted  with  the 
fare  he  met  among  them. 

They  returned  by  way  of  fort  Slusher,  and  then  along 
lake  Erie,  up  Buffalo  creek,  taking  some  fish  as  they 
went.  They  passed  by  the  place  where  Elizabeth  Peart 
and  Rebecca  Gilbert  were,  but  he  had  not  an  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  them. 

The  Stores  they  took  home  with  them,  consisted  of 
rum,  salt  and  ammunition. 

Lake  Erie  is  a))Out  three  hundred  miles  long  from 
east  to  west,  and  about  forty  in  breadth.  It  receives  its 
supply  of  waters  from  lakes  Superior,  Michigan  and 
Huron,  ])y  a  north-west  passage,  called  the  straights  of 
Detroit.  A  very  long  narrow  piece  of  land  lies  on  its 
north  side,  which  projects  remarkably'  into  the  lake,  and 
has  been  noticed  by  most  travellers  and  is  known  by^ 
the  name  of  long  point.    There  are  several  islands  in  it 


* 


(  141  ) 

whicli,  with  the  banks  of  the  lake,  were  more  infested 
with  different  kinds  of  snakes,  i)articularly  the  rattle- 
snake, than  other  phices. 

The  navifiation  of  this  hike  is  allowed  to  be  more 
dangerous  that  the  others,  on  account  of  the  higli  lands 
projecting  into  it;  so  that  when  sudden  storms  arise, 
boats  are  frequently  lost,  as  there  are  but  few  places  to 
land,  and  seldom  a  possibility  of  finding  a  shelter  near 
tlie  craggy  precipices. 

The  waters  of  Erie  pass  through  a  north  east  com- 
munication into  the  river  Niagara,  wliich,  by  a  northerly 
course  of  near  thirty-six  miles,  falls  into  lake  Ontario. 

At  the  discharge  of  this  river  into  lake  Ontario,  on  the 
east  side,  stands  fort  Niagara;  and  at  the  entrance  from 
lake  P>ie  lies  Erie  fort;  between  these  two  forts  are 
tho!-e  extraordinary  falls  which  claim  the  attention  of 
the  curious,  and  are  amongst  the  most  remarkable  works 
of  nature. 

This  stupendous  cataract  is  supplied  by  the  waters 
of  the  several  lakes,  and  their  distant  springs;  which, 
after  traversing  many  hundred  miles,  rash  astonishingly 
down  a  most  horrid  precipice,  and  which,  by  a  small 
island,  is  separated  into  two  large  columns,  and  each 
near  one  hundred  and  forty  feet  perpendicuhir,  and  in 
a  strong,  rai)id,  inconceivable  foam  and  roar,  extends 
near  nine  miles  further;  having  in  this  distance  a  de- 
scent nearly  equal  to  the  first. 

The  straight  of  Niagara  is  esteemed  dangerous  for  a 
mile  or  upwards  above  the  falls.  The  water  of  the  falls 
raises  a  very  heavy  mist,  somewhat  resembling  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  river,  and  this  decei)tion,  together  with 
the  rapidity  of  the  current,  frequently  hurries  the  ducks 
and  geese  down  this  dreadful  ])recipice. 


t 


■■H 


/ 


r 


i 


li 


1 

I: 

i  *  • 
Hi 


Cf 


Ml 


(  142  ) 

This  vast  body  of  water,  after  passing  through  the 
straight  of  Niagara,  is  received  by  lake  Ontario,  or  Cat- 
araqui,  which  is  nearly  of  an  oval  form.  Its  greatest 
length  is  from  north-east  to  south-west,  and  is  generally 
allowed  to  be  six  hundred  miles  in  circumference.  And 
although  the  least  of  the  five  great  lakes  of  Canada  is 
much  the  safest  for  shipping,  as  the  channel  is  less  ob- 
structed by  rocks  or  islands,  than  the  other  lakes.  The 
south  side  is  the  most  commodious  for  batteaux  and 
canoes,  having  a  moderately  slielving  bank  and  shore 
on  that  side ;  the  other  is  more  rocky. 

Many  of  the  rivers  which  fall  into  it,  are  barred  in 
their  entrances  by  broken  hills,  but  the  vallies  are  un- 
commonly fertile. 

On  the  south  the  most  considerable  rivers  which  fall 
into  this  lake,  are,  the  great  and  little  Seneca.  The  falls 
of  these  rivers,  render  them  not  navigable  near  the  lake; 
but  after  the  carrying-places  are  passed  they  run  slow 
and  deep. 

In  onler  to  keep  up  the  communication  between  the 
difierent  parts  of  Canada,  there  is  a  portage  from  the 
landing  l)elo\v  Niagara  falls,  to  the  landing  above,  up 
three  steep  hills,  along  which,  the  road  for  a'oout  eight 
or  nine  miles,  has  been  made  as  easy  for  carts  as  it  pos- 
sibly could ;  ( thence  to  lake  Erie  is  al)0ut  eighteen  miles) 
but  the  stream  is  so  swift  here,  that  it  is  almost  impos- 
sible to  stem  it  for  a  mile  or  two  in  a  ship  with  the  still- 
est gale;  though  batteaux  and  canoes  pass  along  with- 
out much  danger,  as  the  current  is  less  rapid  near  the 
shore.  On  the  north-east  it  empties  itself  into  the  river 
Cataraqui. 

From  this  short  digressive  account  of  the  lakes,  wo 
may  return  to  the  situation  of  the  prisoner,  and  the  In- 
dian familv. 


/ 


(  143  ) 

When  they  had  consumed  their  last  year's  stock  of 
corn,  they  lived  very  low,  and  were  reduced  to  great 
necessity,  digging  what  wild  e?culent  roots  they  could 
find;  this  was  so  different  from  what  he  had  been  ac- 
customed to,  that  he  could  not  bear  it  with  that  cheer- 
fulness witli  which  the  Indians  met  such  difliculties. 
His  i)ainful  reflections,  and  the  want  of  necessaries,  re- 
duced him  exceeding  low. 

Whilst  in  this  distress,  he  happily  obtained  the  use  of 
a  testament  from  a  white  woman,  who  had  been  taken 
captive,  and  afterwards  married  amongst  them.  With 
this  solacing  companion,  he  fre(|uently  retired  into  the 
woods,  and  employed  himself  in  reading  and  meditating 
upon  the  Instruction  couched  in  it. 

The  Indians  directed  a  white  girl  to  inform  him,  that 
they  intended  a  hunt  of  twenty  days,  and  were  desirous 
he  should  attend  them;  to  this  he  agreed,  and  the  whole 
family  accompanied  the  hunters.  They  j)assed  by  the 
town  where  Joseph  Gill)ert  was,  who  informed  his  brother 
that  he  was  goini  to  Niagara;  Thomas  Peart  replied  he 
had  already  been  there,  and  then  informed  him  how  the 
others  of  their  relations  were  dis[)ersed. 

On  their  way  up  the  (Jenesee  river,  whtre  they  in- 
tended to  hunt,  they  took  a  deer. 

The  fourth  day,  as  Thomas  Peart  was  beating  for  game, 
he  lost  hiscompany;  butat  length  came  to  some  Indians 
who  directed  him.  ^^'hen  he  vinnv  to  tiif  family,  much 
fatigued,  and  told  them  he  had  been  lost,  they  were  very 
much  delighted  at  tlie  perplexing  situation  he  had  been 
in. 

The  next  day  they  moved  further,  hvniting  as  they 
went,  and  in  the  evening  fixed  their  (quarters,  where 
they  staid  two  nights. 


i 


m 


«       : 

1  ■ 


r 


\ 


H 


«':^ 


r  li 


(  l-t4  ) 

Thomas  Peart,  not  endeavouring  to  please  them  they 
took  uml)rage  at  his  neglect.  This,  added  to  a  fit  of  the 
ague,  induced  th^m  to  leave  him  in  the  woods,  he  being 
so  weak  he  could  not  keep  up  with  them,  and  was  obliged 
to  follow  by  their  tracks  in  the  leaves. 

Their  provisions  soon  began  to  waste,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  it  was  entirely  consumed;  and  as  they  took 
no  game,  they  were  under  the  necessity  of  eating  wild 
cherries. 

The  prospect  appeared  very  gloomy  to  our  captive,  to 
be  thus  distressed  with  hunger,  and  to  be  from  home 
near  one  hundred  miles  with  the  whole  family.  But 
this  situation,  though  so  alarming  to  him,  did  not  ap- 
pear to  reach  their  Stoic  insensibility.  In  this  extremity 
one  of  the  Indians  killed  a  fine  elk,  which  was  a  long 
wished  for  and  delightful  supply;  but  as  the  weather 
was  very  warm,  and  they  had  no  salt,  it  soon  became 
putrid,  and  filled  with  maggots,  which  they,  notwith- 
standing, eat  without  reserve. 

After  they  had  been  out  upwards  of  thirty  days,  the 
Indians  changed  their  course,  towards  their  own  habita- 
tion, making  but  little  progress  forwards,  as  they  kept 
hunting  as  they  went.  And  as  Thomas  had  long  been 
uneasy,  and  desirous  to  return,  not  expecting  to  have 
been  absent  more  than  twenty  days,  they  gave  him  some 
directions  and  a  small  share  of  provisions;  he  then  left 
them  after  an  unsuccessful  hunt  of  forty  days.  And, 
although  weak  and  unfit  for  the  journey,  he  set  off  in 
the  morning,  and  kept  as  near  a  north-west  course  as  he 
could,  going  ns  fast  as  his  strength  would  permit  over 
large  creeks,  swamps  and  rugged  hills;  and  when  night 
came  on,  made  up  a  small  fire,  and  being  exceedingly 
fatigued,  laid  himself  down  on  the  ground,  and  slept 


;■    i 


(  145  ) 

very  soundly.     In  the  morning  he  continued  his  jour- 
ney. 

When  he  considered  the  great  distance  througli  the 
is  in  the  Indian  towns,  and  the  difficulty  of  procur- 
ing game  to  subsist  on,  it  dejected  him  greatly.  His 
spirits  were  so  depressed,  that  when  the  fire  was  extin- 
guished in  the  night,  he  even  heard  the  wild  betists 
walking  and  howling  around  him,  without  regarding 
them,  as  with  all  his  exertions  and  assiduity,  he  had 
but  small  hope  of  ever  reaching  the  towns,  but  i)rovi- 
dentially  he  succeeded. 

On  the  journey  he  eat  a  land  tortoise,  some  roots  and 
wild  cherries. 

When  he  reached  the  town,  the  Indians  were  pleased 
with  his  return,  and  inquired  the  reason  of  his  coming 
ae,  and  where  he  had  left  the  family  he  went  with; 
^h  he  fullv  informed  them  of. 

This  being  the  time  for  feasting  on  their  new  crop  of 
corn,  and  they  having  plenty  of  pumpkins  and  sipinshes, 
gave  an  agreeable  prospect  of  a  short  season  of  health, 
and  frequent,  thougli  simple,  feasts. 

About  ten  days  after  this,  the  family  returned ;  they 
soon  inquired  if  Thomas  Peart  had  reached  home,  and 
upon  being  informed  that  he  had,  replied  that  it  was 
not  expected  he  ever  could. 

The  Indians  concluding  to  make  a  Avar  excursion, 
asked  Thomas  to  go  with  them;  but  he  determinately 
refused  them,  and  was  therefore  left  at  home  with  the 
family;  and  not  long  after  had  permission  to  visit  his 
brother  Benjamin  Peart,  who  was  then  about  fifteen  or 
eighteen  miles  distant,  down  the  Genesee  river. 

Benjamin  Peart  was  at  that  time  very  much  indis- 
posed.    Thomas,  therefore,  staid  with  him  several  days, 


(  140  ) 

and,  when  he  recovered  a  little  strengtli,  left  him,  and 
returned  to  his  old  habitation. 

He  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  customs,  man- 
ners and  dispositions  of  the  Indians,  and  ol)serving  that 
they  treated  him  just  as  they  had  done  tlic  old  worth- 
less Indian  in  wliose  i)liice  he  was  adopted,  he  having 
been  considered  a  perquisite  of  the  squaws ;  he  there- 
fore concluded  he  would  only  fill  his  predecessor's  sta- 
tion, and  used  no  endeavors  to  please  them,  us  his  busi- 
ness was  to  cut  wood  for  the  family ;  notwitlistanding  he 
miglit  easily  have  procured  a  suilicient  store  yet  he  was 
not  so  disposed,  but  often  refused,  and  even  left  it  for 
the  squaws  sometimes  to  do  themselves,  not  doul)ting  if 
he  was  diligent  and  careful,  they  would  be  less  willing 
to  give  him  his  liberty. 

Joseph  Gilbert  came  to  see  him,  and,  as  has  been  men- 
tioned, informed  him  of  the  decease  of  their  father. 

Some  time  in  tlie  fall,  the  king  ( whose  l)rother  Thomas 
was  called)  died,  and  he  was  directed  to  hew  l^oards  and 
make  a  collin  for  him;  when  it  was  completed,  they 
smeared  it  with  red  paint.  Tlie  women,  whose  atten- 
tion to  tliis  is  always  insisted  on  amongst  the  Indians, 
kept  the  cori)se  for  several  days,  when  they  j)repared  a 
grave,  and  interred  him,  it  being  considered  amongst 
this  tribe,  disgraceful  for  a  man  to  take  any  notice  of 
this  solenni  and  interesting  scene.  A  number  of  squaws 
collected  upon  this  occasion,  and  there  was  great  mourn- 
ing, which  they  continued  for  several  days  at  stated 
times.  As  the  place  of  interment,  as  well  as  that  ap- 
pointed for  weeping,  was  near  the  hut  Thomas  Peart 
resided  at,  he  had  an  opportunity  of  indulging  his 
curiosity,  through  the  openings  of  the  logs,  without  giv- 
ing oU'ence. 


I'  u 


(  147  ) 


Soon  after  this,  one  of  the  women  who  was  called 
Thomas's  sister,  desired  him  to  accompany  her  about 
fifty  miles  towards  Niagara.  Some  others  of  the  family 
went  with  them,  and  in  their  wa}^  they  took  a  deer  and 
other  game. 

They  were  from  home  on  this  journey  about  six  days, 
during  the  time,  there  fell  a  very  heavy  snow,  which 
made  their  journey  toilsome.  The  women  were  sent 
homeward  before  the  rest,  to  i)repare  something  against 
they  came. 

When  they  had  loitered  at  home  a  few  days,  they  set 
about  gathering  their  winter  store  of  hickory  nuts. 
From  some  of  them  they  extracted  an  oil,  which  they 
eat  with  bread  or  meat,  at  their  pleasure. 

Frequently  before  they  set  oil'  on  their  hunting  par- 
ties, they  made  an  Indian  frolick  ;  when,  commonly,  all 
the  company  become  extravagantly  intoxicated.  And 
when  they  intend  t<}  go  off  this  winter,  they  tirst  give 
the  ])reparatory  entertainment. 

After  they  were  gone,  Thomas  Peart  and  the  mistress 
of  the  family  disagreeing,  she  insisted  onhis  joining  the 
hunters,  and  living  on  the  game,  that  she  might  save 
more  corn.  He  i)lead  the  coldness  of  tiie  senson,  and 
his  Avant  of  clothing,  but  it  would  not  avail;  he  was 
therefore  turned  out,  and  ui)on  linding  the  hunters,  he 
built  them  a  iiut,  where  they  staid  for  some  weeks, 
taking  the  game,  and  eating  wild  meat  without  corn,  as 
the  sui)|)ly  they  had  raised  was  short. 

When  they  were  weary  of  their  emjjloy,  they  moved 
to  their  old  hut,  and  lived  in  their  idle  manner  for  a 
longtime.  Tliey  then  again  returned  to  their  hut,  and 
staid  aljout  ten  days,  and  took  several  deer. 


(  148) 


i 


A  few  (lays  after  their  return  from  hunting,  they  ac- 
quainted Thomas  that  they  should  set  off  for  Niagara; 
which  was  truly  grateful  to  him.  There  was  fifteen  of 
them  on  this  visit.  The  old  woman  gave  Thomas  Peart 
a  strict  charge  to  return. 

Altliough  tlie  prospect  of  seeing  or  hearing  from  his 
relations  was  delightful,  yet  the  journey  was  excessively 
painful ;  the  snow  covering  the  ground  to  a  considerable 
depth,  the  cold  increased,  and  they  had  to  wade  through 
several  deep  creeks,  the  water  often  freezing  to  their  legs ; 
and  Thomas  Peart,  as  well  us  the  rest,  were  uncloathed, 
excepting  a  blanket  and  })air  of  leggings. 

In  live  days  tliey  came  to  fort  Slusher,  and  at  the 
treats  they  there  received,  were  most  of  them  drunk  for 
the  day. 

Next  morning  they  wont  to  Niagara,  where  he  im- 
mediately made  ai^plication  to  the  British  officers  to 
solicit  liis  release.  Capt.  Powell  informed  col.  Johnson, 
who  recpiested  it  of  the  Indians;  they  required  some 
time  to  deliberate  upon  the  subject,  not  willing  to  dis- 
oblige the  Colonel,  they  at  length  concluded  to  comply 
with  his  reipiest;  telling  liini,  that  however  hard  it  might 
be  to  part  with  their  own  llesh,  yet,  to  please  him,  they 
consented  to  it  hoping  he  would  make  them  some  present. 

Col.  Johnson  then  directed  him  to  his  own  house,  and 
desired  him  to  clean  himself,  and  sent  cloaths  for  him 
to  dress  with.  Here  lie  had  plenty  of  salt  provisions, 
and  every  necessary  of  life.  This,  with  the  happy  re- 
gaining of  his  liberty,  gave  a  new  spring  to  his  spirits, 
and  for  a  few  days,  he  scarcely  knew  how  to  enjoy 
sufficiently,  this  almost  unlooked  for  change. 

When  recruited,  he  went  to  work  for  col.  Johnson, 
and  a  few  weeks  after  had  the  satisfaction  of  his  brother 


(  149  ) 


1 


lor 


Benjamin  Peart's  company;  who,  though  not  released, 
yet  was  permitted  to  stay  at  the  fort,  and  worked  with 
his  brother  until  spring;  when  capt.  Powell,  lieutenant 
Johnson,  and  Thomas  Peart  went  up  Buffalo  creek,  with 
two  boats  loaded  with  provisions,  and  a  proportion  of 
planting  corn  together  with  hoes,  to  be  distributed  among 
the  Indians. 

In  this  exj)edition  Thomas  had  the  satisfaction  of  see- 
ing and  conversing  with  his  sister  Rebecca,  which  was 
the  first  of  their  meeting  together,  after  a  separation  of 
a  year. 

At  the  distribution  of  the  corn  and  hoes,  the  Indians 
met  and  made  a  general  feast;  after  which,  they  dis- 
persed; and  the  ollicers,  when  they  had  conipleated  their 
business,  returned  to  Niagara,  after  an  absence  of  eight 
or  nine  days. 

Thomjis  Peart  was  settled  at  col.  Johnson's,  to  work 
for  him  at  two  shillings  and  six  pence  per  day,  till  the 
eighth  month,  when  six  of  the  captives  were  sent  to 
Montreal,  and  Thomas  also  had  permission  to  go,  but 
he  chose  rather  to  stny,  to  afford  his  assistance  to  his 
sister  Rebecca  Gilbert,  and  his  cousin  lienjamin  Cjlilbert, 
jun.  who  yet  remained  in  captivity;  exerting  liimself  us 
strenuously  as  i)0ssible  on  their  behalf. 

In  the  fall  he  went  up  again  to  Buffalo  Creek,  where 
he  saw  his  sister  and  cousin  a  second  time,  and  assured 
his  sist(n-  that  the  Col.  intended  to  insist  on  her  being 
released:  This  encouraged  her  to  hope. 

The  Indians  are  too  indolent  to  employ  sulhcient 
pains  to  preserve  their  grain  in  the  winter;  therefore, 
those  who  plant  near  the  fort  generally  send  the  greater 
part  to  the  Knglisli  to  i)reserve  for  tliem,  and  take  it 
back  as  tliey  want  it:  Therefore,  wiuit  this  Neiglibour- 

10 


(  150  ) 


I 
if 


hood  had  more  than  for  a  short  supply,  they  carried 
with  them  in  their  boats  to  the  fort. 

In  the  winter,  Thomas  Peart  undertook  to  chop  wood 
for  the  British  Officers,  and  built  himself  a  hut  about 
two  miles  from  the  fort,  in  which  he  lodged  at  night.  A 
drunken  Indian  came  to  his  cabbin  one  evening  with 
his  knife  in  his  hand,  with  an  intention  of  mischief; 
but,  ])eing  debilitated  with  liquor,  Thomas  Peart  easily 
wrested  his  knife  from  him. 

A  wolf  came  one  night  up  to  the  door  of  his  cabbin, 
which  he  discovered  next  morning,  by  the  tracks  in  the 
snow ;  and,  a  few  nights  after,  paid  a  second  visit,  when 
he  fired  at  him,  and,  by  the  blood  on  the  snow,  sup- 
posed he  had  mortally  wounded  him. 

Next  spring,  Thomas  went  with  the  officers  again  up 
Buflalo  creek,  when  he  afresh  animated  his  sister,  by 
informing  her  that  general  Ilaldimand  had  given  orders 
to  the  officers,  to  procure  their  liberty. 

As  they  returned  by  fort  Erie,  their  boats  were  in 
danger  from  tlie  ice  in  the  lake  and  river.  It  continues 
in  these  parts  until  late  in  the  Spring;  sometimes  as 
late  as  the  lil'th  month;  and,  as  soon  as  melted,  the 
vegetation  is  astonisliingly  (piick. 

About  two  weeks  after  they  returned,  Thomas  Peart 
went  back  again  with  some  officers,  who  were  going  to 
the  Indians. 

After  a  tour  of  fifteen  days,  he  came  again  to  tlie  fort, 
where  he  stayed  for  several  weeks,  and  received  several 
letters  from  his  relations,  at  Montreal,  by  some  officers 
who  were  on  their  way  to  Cataraguors,  on  Lake  Erie, 
about  eiglity  miles  from  Niagara;  who,  in  their  way, 
saw  Rebecca  and  lienjamin  Gilbert,  jun.  with  a  number 
of  Indians,  going  for  Niagara.     Thomas  Peart  made  as 


f  R 


'I 


(    151   ) 

quick  dispatch  as  possible,  to  meet  them,  delighted  with 
the  prospect  of  their  obtaining  their  Liberty. 

They  took  a  porcupine,  whicli  is  somewhat  larger 
than  a  rackoon,  and  covered  reniarkal)ly  with  quills  of 
bone,  about  eight  or  nine  inches  long,  which  they  can 
discharge  with  much  force,  as  to  penetrate  through  a 
man's  hand  at  a  considerable  distance. 

A  few  days  after  he  returned  from  this  expedition,  the 
captives  were  delivered  up :  These  two  had  been  with 
the  Indians  upwards  of  two  years. 

In  a  short  time  after  their  release,  Thomas  Peart  i)ro- 
cured  permission  for  tliem  and  himself  to  proceed  to 
Montreal,  and  was  furnished  with  a  pass,  containing  an 
order  to  obtain  what  provisions  they  might  be  in  want 
of  in  their  passage. 

The  second  day  of  the  sixth  month,  1782,  they  went 
on  board  the  ship  limner,  and  proceeded  towards  Mon- 
treal. When  they  came  against  the  place  where  their 
father  was  interred,  tiiose  whom  they  were  with,  gave 
Thomas  and  Rebecca  notice,  though  they  did  not  land, 
but  pursued  tlieir  voyage;  and,  after  being  seven  days 
on  the  water,  they  reached  fort  Lasheen,  where  they 
staid  that  night,  and  the  next  day  went  to  Montreal  to 
their  relations:  Soon  after  which,  a  letter  was  received 
from  the  before  mentioned  Benjamin  Gilbert,  then  at 
Castleton,  acquainting  them  of  his  being  so  far  on  his 
way  to  Montreal,  in  order  to  give  them  assistance  in 
getting  home,  and  recjuesting  that  i)ermission  niight  be 
obtained  for  his  coming  in;  which,  Klizal>eth  immedi- 
ately ap})lyed  to  the  oflicers  for:  who  with  great  cheer- 
fulness, wrote  in  her  behalf  to  general  Haldimand,  at 
(Quebec,  who  readily  granted  her  recjuest,  together  with 
other  favours  to  Elizabeth,  worthy  of  lier  grateful   re- 


i? 


I 


ill 


It 


(  152  ) 

membrance;  by  which  means,  Benjamin's  arrival  at 
Montreal  was  soon  effected,  where  he  had  the  pleasure 
once  more  of  seeing  and  conversing  with  his  relations 
and  nearest  connexions,  to  their  great  joy  and  satisfac- 
tion, after  an  absence  of  near  three  years ;  during  which 
time,  they  had  but  little  if  any  certain  account  of  each 
other. 

After  some  time  spent  in  inquiring  after  their  relatives 
and  friends,  and  conversing  on  the  once  unthought  of 
and  strange  scenes  of  life  they  had  passed  through  since 
their  separation,  it  became  necessary  to  prepare  for  their 
journey  homewards,  which  was  accordingly  done,  and 
in  about  live  weeks  from  the  time  of  Benjamin's  arrival, 
they  took  leave  of  the  friends  and  acquaintances  they 
had  madeduring  their  residence  there;  w^hose  hospitable 
and  kind  treatment,  merits  their  grateful  and  sincere 
acknowledgements,  and  most  ardent  desires  for  their 
welfare  in  every  scene.  And  on  the  twenty  second  day 
of  the  eighth  month,  1782,  attended  by  a  great  number 
of  the  inhabitants,  they  embarked  in  boats  prepared  for 
them,  and  took  their  departure.  Having  crossed  the 
river,  and  carriages  being  provided,  they  proceeded  on 
their  journey  without  much  delay,  until  they  came  to 
iSt.  John's,  where  they  went  on  board  a  sloop;  but  tlie 
winds  being  unfavourable,  rendered  their  passage  in  the 
lake  somewhat  tedious. 

They  did  not  arrive  at  Crown  Point,  until  about  two 
weeks  after  their  dei)arture  from  Montreal.  They  con- 
tinued here  several  days,  and  from  thence  went  in  open 
boats  to  East-Bay  in  about  two  days,  where  they  landed 
and  staid  all  night,  and  were  next  day  delivered  up  to 
the  officers  of  Vermpnt.  Here  some  of  the  company 
staid  two  nights,  on  account  of  Benjamin  Pearl's  child 


(  l'^>3  ) 

being  very  ill ;  ])y  which  time  it  so  recovered,  that  they 
proceeded  on  to  Castleton,  where  those  that  went  before 
had  halted,  and  near  that  place  stayed  all  night,  and  in 
the  morning  Elizabeth  the  mother  having  engaged  to  do 
an  errand  tor  a  friend,  was  under  a  necessity  of  riding 
about  thirty-five  miles,  which  occasioned  her  to  be 
absent  two  nights  from  the  family,  who  were  at  capt. 
Willard's;  at  which  place  Benjamin  provided  horses 
and  waggons  for  the  remainder  of  the  journey,  together 
with  some  provisions.  Here  tliey  were  civilly  treated, 
and  generously  entertained  free  of  expence. 

Tlie  family  then  proceeded  on,  and  met  their  mother 
at  the  house  of  capt.  Lonson,  where  they  staid  that 
night,  and  until  noon  next  day,  and  were  also  kindly 
treated  by  him. 

Continuing  their  journe}',  they  met  with  John  Braca- 
nage  (who,  together  with  ca})t.  Lanson,  were  passengers 
with  them  to  East-Bay )  he  gave  them  an  invitation  to 
his  house,  whicli  they  accepted,  and  arrived  about  noon 
the  next  day,  and  continued  with  him  two  nights,  and 
were  respectfully  entertained. 

Having  prepared  for  prosecuting  tlu'ir  journey,  he 
proceeded  on  for  the  North-River,  where  they  met  with 
Lot  Trip  and  William  Knowles,  who  kindly  conducted 
the  women  to  the  house  of  David  Sands,  where  they 
lodged  that  night.  The  rest  of  the  family  catne  to  them 
in  the  morning,  jmd  several  of  them  attended  friends 
Meeting,  not  having  tlie  like  o])i)ortunity  for  several 
years  before. 

In  the  afternoon  they  pursued  tlieir  journey,  the  ))e- 
fore  mentioned  Lot  Trip  and  William  Knowles  accom- 
panying them,  and  being  in  a  waggon,  kindly  took 
Elizabeth  and  her  younger  daughter  i)assengers  with 
them,  which  i)rovcd  a  considerable  relief 


* 

t  ■ 

^•1 

It: 

if 

I. 

w 

!'■ 

,'l . 


(, 


i 


(  154  ) 

In  a  few  days  they  came  into  Pennsylvania,  where 
they  met  with  some  of  their  relations  and  former  ac- 
quaintances and  friends,  who  were  unitedly  rejoiced  at 
the  happy  event  of  once  more  seeing  and  conversing 
with  them. 

The  next  day,  being  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  the 
ninth  month,  1782,  they  arrived  at  Byberry,  the  place 
of  their  nativity,  and  the  residence  of  their  nearest  con- 
nexions and  friends,  where  Elizabeth  and  her  children 
were  once  more  favoured  with  the  agreeable  opportunity 
of  seeing  and  conversating  with  her  ancient  mother,  to- 
gether with  their  other  nearest  relatives  and  friends,  to 
their  mutual  joy  and  satisfaction ;  under  which  happy 
circumstance  we  now  leave  them. 


Thouglds  aUud'mg  in  and  in  jmrt  occasioned  by  the  Captirity 
and  Sufferings  of  Bkn.iamin  Gilhert  and  his  family. 

AS  from  the  forest  issues  the  fell  boar, 

So  human  ravagers,  in  deserts  bred. 
On  the  defenceless,  peaceful  hamlet  pour 

Wild  waste  o'er  all,  and  sudden  ruin  spread  I 

Here  undisguis'd,  war's  brutal  spirit  see, 

In  venom'd  nature  to  the  root  laid  bare. 
In  which  (triekt  up  in  webs  of  policy) 

Professing  christians  vindicate  their  share. 

Pompt)us  proli'ssion,  vaunting  in  a  name, 

Floats  lightly  on  an  ostentatious  show, 
Nor  dips  sincere,  in  resignation's  stream. 

To  bring  memorials  from  the  depths  below. 


I 


(  155  ) 

Sophisticated  dogmas  of  the  schools, 
The  flatulent,  unwholesome  food  of  strife, 

With  zeal  pedantic,  for  tradition's  rules. 
Still  crucify  the  principle  of  life. 

The  woes  of  this  probationary  state. 
Through  life  so  mingled  and  diversified, 

Derive  their  chief  malignity  and  weight. 

From  murmuring  discontent  and  captious  pride. 

Transient  is  human  life,  all  flesh  as  grass, 
The  goodliness  of  man  but  as  a  flower. 

Fine  gold  must  through  the  fervid  furnace  pass ; 
Through  death  we  immortality  explore : 

Through  judgment  must  deliverance  be  known, 
From  vile  afl'ections,  and  their  wrathful  sting; 

True  peace  pertains  to  righteousness  alone, 

That  flows,  through  faith,  from  life's  eternal  spring ! 

Should  man  (to  glory  call'd,  and  endless  bliss) 

Bewail  his  momentary  adverse  doom  ? 
Or  in  deep  thankful  resignation  kiss 

The  rod  that  prompts  him  on  his  journey  home  ? 

Unsearchable  the  providence  of  God, 

By  boasted  wisdom  of  the  son  of  dust ; 
Lo  !  virtue  feels  opj)ression's  iron  rod, 

And  impious  spirits  triumph  o'er  the  just? 

Shall  hence  a  self-conceited  reptile  dare 

Th'  omniscient  ruler's  etpiity  arrain  ? 
Say  here  thy  wrath  is  lit,  thy  bounty  there, 

Good  to  promote,  and  evil  to  restrain  ? 

Believing  souls  nnfeigiiedly  can  say, 

Not  mine,  but  thy  all-perfect  will  be  done  ; 

If  l)est  this  bitter  cup  should  pass  away, 
Or  be  endur'd,  to  thee,  not  me,  is  known. 


k^l 


11 


(  156  ) 

Deep  tribulation  in  the  hnml)ly  wise, 

Through  patience  to  <liviiie  experience  leads  ; 

The  ground  where  hope  securely  edifies, 

Purg'd  of  the  filth  whence  conscious  shame  proceeds. 

Affliction  is  liethosda's  cleansing  pool, 

Deep  searching  each  distenii)er  of  the  mind  ; 

The  poor  way-farer,  though  estecin'd  a  fool. 
Baptizing  here,  immortal  health  may  find. 

Though  for  the  present  grim  adversity 

Not  joyous  is,  hut  grievous  to  sustain  ; 
Humbling  the  Shepherd's  call — "  Come  learn  of  me" 

In  lowly  meekness  to  endure  thy  pain  ; 

Yet  shall  it  work  a  glorious  recompense  ; 

Nor  can  the  heart  of  man  conceive  in  full, 
The  good  ])y  infinite  beneficence, 

Stor'd  for  the  patient  unrepining  soul. 

Some  feeble  ones  sustain  the  galling  yoke, 
With  firmness  no  ferocious  tempers  know  ; 

Calm  resignation  mitigates  the  stroke 
Of  ills,  tremendous  to  the  distant  view  ! 

If  disappointment  blast  thy  sanguine  hope, 

Fndulg'd  in  sublunary  jirospects  fair, 
Conclude  tliy  guardian  angel  ma<le  thee  stop, 

To  check  thy  l)lind,  thy  dangerous  career. 

The  captive  family  in  savage  bonds, 

Trace  through  each  rugged  way  and  trackless  wild  ; 
Through  famine,  toils  unknown,  and  hostile  wounds, 

The  tender  mother  with  her  infant  child  ; 

Then  with  thy  lighter  griefs  their  sorrows  weigh, 

Nor  let  thy  own  demerits  be  forgot ; 
Impartial  inference  deduce,  and  say 

Whence  thy  exemption  from  their  heavy  lot : 


M 


(  157  ) 

Is  it  thy  wisdom  shields  thee  in  the  hour, 

When  mighty  dangers  o'er  thy  head  impend? 

Can  thine,  or  other  mortal  arm  of  power. 
From  famine,  pestilence,  or  storm  defend  ? 

Confess  'tis  mercy  covers  tliee  from  harm, 

A  care  benign,  unmerited  l»y  thee  ; 
And  if  the  grateful  sense  thy  bosom  warm, 

Small  2)rice  is  paid  for  such  felicity. 

If  the  hard  Indian's  wild  ferocity. 
Against  their  race  thy  indignation  move. 

Think  on  the  example  duo  to  them  from  thee, 
Professing  Christian  equity  and  love: 

So  shall  their  cruel,  their  abhorred  deeds, 
Instruction  to  the  humlde  mind  convey, 

Kemind  us  whence  all  violence  proceeds. 
And  strengthen  to  pursue  the  iieaceful  way. 

Vengeance  with  vengeance  holds  perpetual  war; 

Love  oidy  can  o'er  enmity  prevail, 
Suli)hur  and  pitch,  absurdly  who  i)repare, 

To  quench  devouring  fire,  are  sure  to  fail. 

Hear  ye  vindictive  !  be  no  longer  jiroud. 

The  high  decree  is  past,  gone  forth  the  word; 

No  vain  illusi(m— 'tis  the  voice  of  God  ! 

"  Who  use  the  sword  must  perish  by  the  sword  ;" 

Perish  from  that  divine  einiobling  sense 
Of  heavenly  good,  which  evil  overcomes; 

That  light,  whose  energetic  inllueiu.v, 

With  piercing  ray  dispels  bewildering  glooms. 

From  whence  come  mortal  jarrings  !  come  they  not 
From  lust,  from  pride,  from  sellish  ari'ogance? 
In  whieh,  from  {.eace  and  freedom  far  remote, 
The  blind  goad  on  the  blind,  a  slavish  dance. 


(  158  ) 

What !  ories  the  zealot,  shall  not  Christian  faith 
O'er  heathen  infidelity  prevail? 

Yes but  the  means  is  not  thy  will,  thy  wrath  ; 

Means  which  confetlerate  with  death  and  hell. 

Did  ever  tyger-hearted  Spanish  Chief, 
By  those  dire  massacres  in  story  told, 
Vanfjuish  I'eriivia's  stubborn  unbelief. 
Or  add  one  convert  to  the  Christian  fold? 

Vindictive  man  will  still  retaliate. 
Evil  for  evil,  and  still  rack  his  brains. 
For  arguments  the  cause  to  vindicate ; 
Nor  knows  what  spirit  in  his  bosom  reigns. 

Messiah  is  the  love  of  God  to  man  ! 
Reveal'd  on  earth,  not  to  destroy,  but  save  ; 
JJy  wisdom's  peaceful  influence  to  maintain. 
Dominion  over  death,  hell  and  grave. 


[ 


f!' 


But  why  for  Christian  purity  contend? 
Who  has,  alas  !  believ'd  the  glad  report? 
How  many  boast  the  name,  the  name  defend  ; 
Yet  make  the  virtual  life  their  scoff  and  sport? 

Deal  forth  (heir  censures  with  unsparing  zeal, 
'(iainst  savage  violence  and  cruel  wrong  ; 
Nor  dream  the  real  essential  infidel 
Holds  o'er  their  s[)irits  his  dominion  strong. 

What  Turkish  rover,  or  what  heathen  foe. 
Shews  more  contempt  of  gospel  ecjuity, 
Than  those,  to  sultry  climes  remote  who  go, 
T'  enslave  their  fellow  men,  by  nature  free  ? 

The  yelling  warrior,  with  relentless  hand. 
Leaves  parent  childless,  fatherless  the  son  ; 
Their  griefs  our  tender  sympathy  demand  ; 
But  what  have  distant  Afric's  children  done  ? 


i   \ 


(  159  ) 

Will  still  the  pick-thank  temporizing  priest, 
Give  this  oppression  pharasaic  aid  ? 
Will  civiliz'd  believers  still  persist 
To  vindicate  the  abominable  trade  ? 

Th'  extensive,  deep,  unrighteous  t'  untold, 
West-India's  dark,  inhuman  laws  explore  ; 
What  gross  iniijiiity  we  there  behold, 
In  solemn  acts  of  legislative  power? 

Britons  who  loud  for  liberty  contend, 
Affect  to  guard  their  nation  from  the  stain  ; 
Yet  sordidly  in  ^fammon's  temple  bend, 
And  largely  share  in  the  ungodly  gain. 

What  ardent  execrations  do  we  hear, 
'Gainst  barbarious  Mohoc's,  bloody  Shawnese? 
From  father's  arms  their  hopeful  sons  who  tear  ; 
From  mother's  breast  love's  tender  i)ledges  seize. 

()  Christian  think  !  with  what  redoubled  force, 
'Gainst  which  fallacious  artifice  is  vain, 
On  thee  recurs  thy  aggravated  curse, 
Heav'ns  righteous  Judge  pronouncing— "Thou  art  the  Man." 

Think  for  what  end  the  Mediator  came, 
On  earth  an  ignominious  death  to  die  ; 
Thy  soul  from  wrath's  dominion  to  redeem, 
And  to  himself  a  people  purity. 


(  160  ) 


The  foUoiving  Narrative  wc  had  from  Uouert  Roijison,  irho 
was  an  eye  vntness  to  many  of  the  transactions  related  by 
him,  he  was  wounded  at  the  Kitaning,  when  taken  by  Col. 
afterwards  General  John  Armstrong,  and  a  second  time  at 
the  skirmish  at  Bv(f(doe  creek,  where  two  of  his  brothers  fell 
victims  to  savage  fury.  From  our  long  acquaintance  irith 
this  man,  ivho  i'^now  no  more,  we  can  have  no  hesitation 
in  believing  his  Narrative  correct,  to  the  best  of  his  roncm- 
brance. 


•  ■jf' 


He  says,  Sideling  Hill  was  the  first  fouglit  battle  after 
Braddock's  defeat,  in  the  year  175G,  a  party  of  Indians 
came  out  of  Conocheagiie,  to  a  garrison  of  the  name  of 
M'Cords  fort,  and  killed  some  and  took  a  number  of 
prisoners.  They  tiien  took  their  course  near  to  fort 
Littleton,  captain  Hamilton  being  stationed  there  with 
a  company,  hearing  of  their  route  at  M'Cords  fort  marched 
with  his  company  of  men,  having  an  Indian  wdth  them 
who  was  under  j)ay;  this  Indian  led  the  company  and 
came  on  the  tracks  of  the  Indians,  and  followed  them  to 
Sideling  Hill,  where  they  found  them  with  their  prison- 
ers, and  having  the  first  fire,  but  without  doing  much 
damage  ;  the  Indians  returned  the  fire,  defeated  our  men, 
and  killed  a  number  of  them ;  my  brother  James  R()l)in- 
son  was  among  the  slain.  The  ladians  had  M'Cord's 
wife  with  them;  they  cut  of  Mr.  James  Blair's  liead,  and 
threw  it  in  Mrs.  M'Cord's  lap,  saying  that  was  her  hus- 
bands head ;  but  she  knew  it  to  l)e  Blairs. 

The  next  I  remember  of  was  in  the  same  year,  the 
Woolcomber's  family  on  Shearman's  creek;  the  whole 
of  the  inha])itantsof  the  valley  was  gathered  to  a  fort  at 
George  Robison's.  but  the  Woolcomber  would  not  leave 


\e 
)le 
:it 
ve 


(  161  ) 

home,  he  said  it  was  the  Irish  who  were  kilHng  one 
another,  these  peaceable  people,  the  Indians,  would  not 
hurt  any  person.  Being  at  home,  and  at  dinner,  the  In- 
dians came  in,  and  the  Quaker  asked  them  to  come  and 
eat  dinner;  an  Indian  answered  that  lie  did  not  coiae 
to  eat,  but  for  scalps;  the  son  a  boy  of  14  or  15  years  of 
age,  when  he  heard  the  Indian  say  so,  repaired  to  a  back 
door,  and  as  he  went  out  he  looked  back  and  saw  the 
Indian  strike  the  tomahawk  into  his  fathers  lujad.  The 
boy  then  ran  over  the  creek,  which  was  near  to  the  house, 
and  heard  the  screams  of  his  mother,  sisters  and  brothers. 
The  boy  came  to  our  fort  and  gave  us  the  alarm,  about 
forty  went  to  where  the  murder  was  done  and  buried 
the  dead. 

In  the  month  of  September,  17o7,  col.  .lohn  Arm- 
strong, with  o(l7  men,  went  to  Kittaning  undiscovered 
until  we  came  to  a  place  called  the  Forty  Mile  Lick, 
where  tlie  Indians  trimmed  the  hair  of  the  prisoners. 
We  lay  there  on  Saturday  niglit,  the  next  morning  the 
colonel  ordered  two  of  our  guides  to  spy  the  town,  they 
went  and  brought  back  word,  that  the  Indians  were  there. 
The  names  of  the  spies  were  Thomas  Burke,  and  James 
Chalmers,  both  old  traders.  We  marched  from  that 
place  to  the  town  that  day  and  night. 

When  we  came  within  alK)ut  six  mil(!S  of  the  town, 
we  observed  a  fire,  our  colonel  ordered  two  men  to  go 
and  si)y  how  manj^  Indians  tlicre  was  at  the  lire,  mc- 
cordingly  they  w<'nt,  but  see  only  four,  the  rest  h;i(l  lain 
down  and  could  not  be  seen.  The  colonel  left  lieut. 
Hoge,  with  twelve  men  to  light  these  supposed  four; 
whereas  the  prisoners  give  the  account,  that  there  was 
twenty-five  Indians  sent  out  to  kill  meat  for  the  com- 
pany that  was  to  be  there  next  night,  consisting  of  loO, 


r 


(  162  ) 


i' 


if 


lii 


'iC 


( 


destined  for  Virginia.  These  twelve  men  and  their  offi- 
cer, crawled  near  to  the  Indians  before  daj'^  break.  An 
Indian  came  towards  them  and  was  like  to  come  too 
near,  the  Indian  not  knowing  any  thing  of  them,  these 
men  fired  at  this  Indian,  but  missed  him,  when  all  the 
Indians  ran  from  the  fire  and  left  their  guns  standing  at 
a  rack,  which  they  commonly  have.  Our  men  standing, 
and  not  laying  hold  of  the  Indians  guns,  gave  them  time 
to  return  for  their  guns,  and  commence  a  battle.  Out 
of  which  party  the  Indians  killed  the  lieutenant,  and 
five  men,  and  wounded  two  others.  Shortly  after  they 
began,  we  began  at  the  town,  and  they  heard  our  firing 
which  discouraged  the  Indians  greatly ;  our  i)eople  tell- 
ing them  your  town  is  on  fire,  you  dogs  you:  our  people 
got  off',  and  the  Indians  did  not  follow  them  as  they 
would  have  done.  When  the  Indian  magazine  blew  up 
in  the  town,  they  ceased  firing  a  considerable  time,  which 
report  was  h(;ard  at  fort  Pitt.  A  boy  of  the  name  of 
Crawford,  told  afterwards,  that  he  was  up  at  the  Kittan- 
ing  next  day,  with  some  Frencli  and  Indians,  an<l  found 
ca])tain  Jacobs,  his  S(juaw,  and  son,  with  some  others. 

Tlie  form  in  which  we  made  the  attack  was,  our  cap- 
tains stood  all  in  rank,  each  company  l)ehind  their  cap- 
tain; the  word  was  given,  every  man  do  for  hiniself:  we 
rushed  down  to  the  town,  the  Indian's  dogs  barked,  and 
the  first  house  we  ciimc  to,  the  Indian  c^ame  out,  and 
held  his  liand.  as  shading  tlie  liglit  from  his  eyes,  look- 
ing towards  v.s,  until  there  was  five  guns  fired  at  him; 
he  then  ran  and  with  a  loud  voice,  called  tthewanick, 
which  signifies  whitemen,  there  was  in  the  house  a  young 
woman,  a  prisoner,  wiio  came  out  with  both  her  liands 
raised  up,  but  the  guns  were  firing  so  fast  ? lie  got  fright- 
ened, and  ran  back  to  the  house  again,  where  she  got  a 


(  163  ) 


1^ 

lis 
ll- 


grain  of  swan  shot  through  her  arm  ;  she  then  made  out 
a  second  time  and  was  received  by  us,  the  Indians  being 
then  alarmed,  were  running  through  the  cornfield,  the 
Indians  fired  on  us,  but  to  no  purpose,  we  rushed  into 
the  town,  and  the  Indians  all  left  it  exce})t  captain  Jacobs, 
his  squaw,  son,  and  one  called  by  the  traders  Pisquetum, 
and  some  others  that  were  blown  up  with  their  magazine; 
we  relieved  five  prisoners,  besides  the  young  woman 
which  we  first  took,  she  was  retaken  whencapt.  Mercer's 
company  was  broke,  which  I  sliall  give  you  an  account 
of. 

When  we  had  ended  our  tragedy  in  the  town,  we  then 
prepared  for  the  road,  we  had  six  killed,  and  six  wounded, 
our  colonel  was  among  the  wounded;  before  the  Indians 
gave  up  the  colonel  says,  is  there  none  of  you  lads,  that 
will  set  fire  to  these  rascals  that  have  wounded  mo,  and 
killed  so  many  of  our  men.  John  Ferguson  a  soldier 
swore  by  the  Lord  (rod  that  he  would,  he  goes  to  a  house 
covered  with  bark,  and  takes  a  slice  of  bark  which  had 
fire  on  it,  he  rushes  up  to  the  cover  of  Jacob's  house  and 
held  it  there  until  it  had  burned  about  one  yard  s(iuare, 
then  he  ran,  and  the  Indians  fired  at  him  the  smoke 
blew  about  his  legs  but  the  shot  missed  hiin;Mll  eyes 
were  upon  the  magnzine,  watching  when  these  fellows 
would  come  forth;  they  remained  until  tiieir  guns  took 
fire,  and  went  oil  like  a  })latoon,  tlieir  magazine  i)lew  up 
at  the  same  time;  then  Jacobs  and  those  before  men- 
tioned si)rung  v.ut,  Jacob's  squaw  wiehled  a  tomahawk 
round  her  head  before  she  jumped  the  fence,  .lacobs  fell 
first,  then  his  wife,  and  then  his  son,  in  proportion  seven 
feet  high.  We  were  then  i>rei)aring  to  leave  the  town, 
when  captain  Mercer,  who  had  his  right  arm  broke  in 
the  town;  his  company  was  chieily  compt)sed  of  traders, 


(  164  ) 


■  i 


'1     ' 


I 


U    ' 


who  persuaded  their  captain  that  there  would  not  one 
living  man  of  us  ever  get  home,  and  if  he,  capt.  Mercer 
would  go  with  them  they  would  take  him  a  near  cut, 
accordingly  all  his  company  went  with  him  but  sergeant 
Brown,  and  twelve  men;  the  captain  however,  and  his 
men,  unfortunately  fell  in  with  the  Indians  tliat  lieu- 
tenant Hoge  had  been  fighting  with  that  morning ;  they 
fell  upon  his  company  and  broke  it,  killing  about  twenty 
men;  captain  Mercer  liavinga  horse, Thomas  IJurke,  en- 
sign Scott  and  he,  drove  to  the  road  that  he  had  gone 
along;  there  the  captains  arm  broke  loose,  and  he  was 
forced  to  stop  and  dress  it,  he  liecame  faint,  in  the  mean 
time  they  espied  an  Indian  coming  from  following  us, 
Burke  and  Scott  mounted  Mercer's  horse  and  rode  off, 
leaving  him  to  his  fate,  but  Mercer  lay  down  behind  a 
log,  it  hapjjcning  to  be  thick  of  weeds,  the  Indian  came 
about  six  feet  from  him,  and  seeing  Burke  and  Scott 
riding,  he  gave  out  a  halloo  and  ran  after,  in  a  short 
time  Mercer  heard  two  guns  go  off:  he  then  went  down 
through  a  long  plumb  bottom,  and  lay  there  until  night, 
when  he  made  the  best  of  his  way.  It  was  at  the  time 
of  the  plumbs  being  ripe,  but  that  did  not  last  long 
enough,  for  the  captain  had  a  month  to  struggle  with, 
before  he  got  home,  all  the  food  he  got  after  the  plumbs 
were  done  was  one  rattle  snake,  and  to  eat  it  raw.  On 
the  north  side  of  the  Alleghany  mountain,  he  saw  one 
day  what  he  thought  to  be  an  Indian,  and  the  other  saw 
him,  both  took  trees  and  stood  a  long  time;  at  last  the 
ca])tain  thought  he  would  go  forward  and  n /^et  his  fate, 
but  when  he  came  near,  he  found  it  to  be  one  of  his  own 
men:  both  rejoiced  to  meet,  and  both  in  tliat  situation 
scarcely  able  to  walk,  they  ])ushed  over  the  mountain, 
and  were  not  far  from  Franks  town,  when  the  soldier 


(  165  ) 


kvith, 

nibs 

On 

one 

saw 

tlie 

Hate, 

k)wn 

tion 

lain, 

Idler 


lay  down  unable  to  go  any  further,  with  an  intention 
never  more  to  rise.  The  captain  went  about  seven  miles 
when  he  also  lay  down  giving  up  all  hopes  of  ever  get- 
ting home.  At  this  time  there  was  a  company  of  Chero- 
kee Indians  in  kings  pay,  and  being  at  fort  Littleton 
captain  Hamilton  sent  some  of  them  to  search  along  the 
foot  of  the  Alleghany  mountain  to  see  if  there  was  any 
signs  of  Indians  on  the  route,  and  these  Indians  came 
upon  captain  Mercer,  able  to  rise,  they  gave  him  food, 
and  he  told  them  of  the  other,  they  took  the  captains 
track  and  found  him,  and  brought  him  to  fort  Littleton, 
carrying  him  on  a  bier  of  their  own  making.  We  took 
fourteen  scalps  in  this  expedition. 

As  for  our  retreating  from  the  Kittaning,  we  met  with 
no  opposition,  only  a  few  Indians  on  the  side  of  the 
town  fired  on  us,  they  shot  about  two  hundred  yards, 
and  shot  Andrew  Douglas  through  both  ancles.  We  had 
no  more  injury  done  until  we  came  to  this  side  of  the 
Alleghany  mountain,  when  one  Samuel  Chambers  hav- 
ing left  liis  coat  at  the  Clear-Fields,  desired  leave  of  col. 
Armstrong  to  go  back  for  his  coat,  and  to  bring  three 
horses  which  had  given  out;  col.  Armstrong  advised 
against  it,  l)ut  Chambers  persisted  in  going,  and  so  went 
))ack;  when  he  came  to  the  top  of  tlie  mountain,  a  party 
of  Indians  fired  on  him  but  missed  him  ;  Cliambers  tlien 
steered  towards  Big  Island,  the  Indians  pursued  and 
the  third  day  killed  him  in  French  Margaret's  Island. 
So  the  Indians  told  old  capt.  Patterson. 

The  next  was  general  Bofjuet,  the  second  war,  wlien 
tlie  Indians  tliought  they  were  able  to  kill  and  take 
us  all  themselves,  the  French  being  l)ound  by  tlie  hist 
treaty  of  i>eace  not  to  supply  the  Indians  with  pow- 
der and  lead,  the  Indians  not  knowing  this  until  they 
11 


(  106  ) 


.! 


!l 


were  in  need  of  ammunition.  They  however  did  much 
mischief,  fought  Boquet  at  busliy  run,  but  were  defeated. 
At  this  time  Boquet  went  down  the  Ohio  seventy  five 
miles  below  fort  Pitt,  and  sent  one  David  Owens,  who 
had  been  married  to  an  Indian  woman,  and  had  by  her 
three  children,  when  taking  a  thought  that  he  would  ad- 
vance himself,  killed  and  scalped  his  wife  and  children 
and  brought  their  scalps  to  Philadelphia,  he  received  no 
reward  only  was  made  ambassador  l)etwcen  general  Bo- 
quet and  the  Indians. 

When  Owens  was  sent  to  let  the  Indians  know  they 
might  have  peace,  they  made  a  prisoner  of  him,  for  the 
murder  he  had  committed,  two  of  his  wife's  brothers 
being  there;  Owens  gave  them  to  know,  if  they  killed 
him  they  would  never  get  peace. 

The  Indians  held  council  three  days  ui)on  him,  thc}'' 
then  let  him  go  and  came  up  themselves,  agreeable  to 
the  invitation  which  was  sent  to  them,  and  agreed  to 
give  up  the  prisoners:     So  ended  that  campaign. 

In  this  second  war,  on  the  fifth  day  of  July,  1703,  the 
Indians  came  to  Juniata,  it  being  harvest  time  and  the 
white  jieople  were  come  back  to  reap  their  crops,  they 
came  first  to  the  house  of  William  White,  it  was  on  the 
sabbath  day  the  reai)ers  were  all  in  the  house,  the  In- 
dians crept  up  nigh  to  the  door  and  shot  the  ])eople  lay- 
ing on  the  floor,  killed  William  White,  and  all  his  family 
that  were  there  excepting  one  boy,  who  when  he  heard 
the  guns  leaped  out  of  the  window  and  made  his  escaj)e. 

This  same-party  went  to  Robert  Campbell's  on  the 
Tuscarora  creek,  suri)rised  them  in  the  same  way,  shot 
them  on  the  Hoor  where  they  were  resting  themselves; 
one  (Jeorge  Dodds  being  there  harvesting,  had  just  risen, 
and  gone  into  tlie  room  and  lay  down  on  the  bed,  set- 


(  167  ) 


rd 
|e. 
he 


ting  his  gun  beside  him.  When  the  Indians  fired,  one 
of  them  sprung  into  the  house  with  his  tomahawk  in  his 
hand,  running  up  to  where  a  man  was  standing  in  the 
corner ;  Dodds  fired  at  the  Indian  not  six  feet  from  him, 
the  Indian  gave  a  halloo  and  ran  out  as  fast  as  he  oould  : 
there  being  an  open  in  the  loft  above  the  bed,  Dodds 
sprung  up  there  and  went  out  by  the  chimney  making 
his  escape,  and  came  to  Shearman's  valley;  he  came  to 
William  Dickson's  and  told  what  had  happened,  there 
l)eing  a  young  man  there  which  V)roughtthe  news  to  us, 
who  were  harvesting  at  Edward  Elliott's ;  other  intelli- 
gence we  got  in  the  night,  John  (Jraham,  John  Christy 
and  James  Christy,  were  alarmed  in  the  evening  by  guns 
firing  at  William  Anderson's  where  the  old  man  was 
killed  with  his  bible  in  his  hand,  su})i>()sed  he  was  about 
worship;  his  son  also  was  killed  and  a  girl  that  had  been 
brought  up  from  a  child  by  the  old  people ;  Ch-aham  and 
the  Christys  came  about  midnight,  we  hearing  the  In- 
dians had  gone  so  far  up  the  Tuscarora  valley,  and  know- 
ing Collins's  family  and  James  Scott's  was  there  about 
their  harvest,  twelve  of  us  concluded  to  go  over  iiigham's 
gap  and  give  those  word  that  were  there;  when  we  came 
to  Collins's  we  saw  that  the  Indians  had  been  there,  had 
broke  a  wheel,  emptied  a  bed,  and  taken  Hour  of  which 
they  made  some  water  gruel,  we  counted  thirteen  spoons 
made  of  bark;  we  followed  the  tracks  down  to  James 
Scott's,  where  we  found  the  Indians  had  killed  some 
fowls,  we  pursued  on  to  (Iraham's,  there  the  house  was 
on  fire,  and  burned  down  to  the  joists;  we  divided  our 
men  into  two  })arties,  six  in  each,  my  brother  with  his 
party  came  in  behind  the  barn,  and  myself  with  the 
other  i)arty  came  down  through  an  oats  field,  1  was  to 
siioot  first,  the  Indians  had  hung  a  coat  upon  a  post,  on 


r 


(168) 


M 


the  other  side  of  the  fire  from  us,  I  looked  at  it,  and  saw 
it  immovable,  and  therefore  walked  down  to  it  and  found 
that  the  Indians  had  just  left  it;  they  had  killed  four 
hogs  and  had  eaten  at  pleasure ;  our  company  took  their 
tracks,  and  found  that  two  companies  had  met  at  Gra- 
ham's and  had  gone  over  the  Tuscarora  mountain.  We 
took  the  run  gap  the  two  roads  meeting  at  Nicholson's, 
they  were  there  first  heard  us  coming  and  lay  in  ambush 
for  us;  they  had  the  first  fire  being  twenty-five  in  num- 
ber, and  only  twelve  *  of  us ;  they  killed  five,  and  wounded 
myself.  They  then  went  to  Alexander  Logan's,  where 
they  emptied  some  beds,  and  passed  on  to  George  M'- 
Cord's. 

*  The  names  of  the  twelve  were  William  Bobison  who  acted  as 
captain,  Robert  h'obison,  the  relator  of  this  narrative,  Thomas  liobi- 
son,  being  three  brothers,  John  Graham,  Charles  Elliott,  William 
Christy,  James  Christ i/,  David  Miller,  John  Elliott,  Edward  M^Con- 
nel,  William  M'^Alister,  and  John  Nicholson,  the  persons  killed  were 
William  Robison,  he  was  shot  in  the  belly  with  buck  shot  and  got 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  ground  ;  John  Elliott,  then  a  boy  of  about 
seventeen  years  of  age,  having  emptied  his  gun,  was  pursued  by  an 
Indian  with  his  tomakawk,  who  was  within  a  few  perches  of  him, 
when  Elliott  had  poured  some  powder  into  his  gun  by  random,  out 
of  his  powder  horn,  and  having  a  bidlet  in  his  mouth,  put  it  in  the 
muzzle,  but  had  no  time  to  ram  it  down  ;  he  turned  and  fired  at  his 
pursuer,  who  clapped  his  hand  on  his  stomach  and  cried  oeh  I  turned 
and  fled,  Elliott  had  run  but  a  few  perches  farther,  when  he  over- 
took William  Robison,  weltering  in  his  blood,  in  his  last  agonies,  he 
requested  I'^lliott  to  carry  him  off,  who  excused  himself,  by  telling 
him  of  his  inability  to  do  so,  and  also  of  the  danger  they  were  in,  he 
said  he  knew  it,  but  desired  him  to  take  his  gun  with  him,  and  peace 
or  war,  if  ever  he  had  an  opportunity  of  an  Indian,  to  shoot  him  for 
his  sake.  Elliott  brought  away  the  gun,  and  Robison  was  not  found 
by  the  Indians. 

Thomas  Robison  stood  on  the  ground  until  the  wliole  of  his  peo- 
ple were  fled,  nor  did  the  Indians  ofl'er  to  pursue,  until  the  last  man 


)^ 


(  169  ) 


). 


A  party  of  forty  men  came  from  CJarlisle,  in  order  to 
bury  the  dead  at  Juniata,  when  they  saw  the  dead  at 
Buffaloe  creek  they  returned  home ;  then  a  party  of  men 
came  with  captain  Dunning,  but  before  they  came 
Alexander  Logan,  his  son  John,  Charles  Coyle,  William 
Hamilton,  with  Bartholomew  Davis,  followed  the 
Indians  to  George  M'Cord's,  where  they  were  in  the 
barn;  Logan,  and  these  with  him  were  all  killed,  except 

left  the  field  ;  Thomas  having  fired  and  charged  a  second  time,  the 
Indians  were  prepared  for  him,  and  when  he  took  aim  past  the  tree, 
a  number  fired  at  him  at  the  same  time ;  one  of  his  arms  was  broke 
he  took  his  gun  in  the  other  and  fled,  going  up  a  hill  he  came  to  a 
high  log,  and  clapped  his  hand  in  which  was  his  gun  on  the  log  to 
assist  in  leaping  over  it,  while  in  the  attitude  of  stooping,  a  bullett 
entered  his  side,  going  in  a  triangular  course  through  his  body,  he 
sunk  down  across  the  log  ;  the  Indians  sunk  the  cock  of  his  gun  into 
his  brains,  and  mangled  him  very  much.  John  Graham  was  .seen 
by  David  Miller  sitting  on  a  log,  not  far  from  the  place  of  attack, 
with  his  hands  on  his  face,  and  the  blood  running  through  his  fingers. 
Charles  Elliott  and  Edward  M'Connell  took  a  circle  round  where 
the  Indians  were  laying,  and  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  Buffalo 
creek,  but  they  were  pursued  by  the  Indians,  and  where  they  crossed 
the  creek,  there  was  a  high  bank,  and  as  they  were  endeavouring  to 
ascend  the  bank  they  were  both  shot,  and  fell  back  into  the  water. 

Thus  ended  this  unfortunate  affair  to  those  engaged,  but  at  the 
same  time  it  appears  as  if  there  had  been  a  hand  of  Providence  in 
the  whole  transaction  ;  for  there  is  every  reason  to  believe,  that  spies 
had  l>een  viewing  the  place  the  night  before,  and  the  Indians  were 
within  three  (pmrters  of  a  mile  of  the  place  from  which  the  men  had 
started,  where  there  would  have  been  from  twenty  to  thirty  men, 
perhaps  in  the  field  a  reaping,  and  all  the  guns  that  could  be  de- 
])eiided  on  were  in  this  small  company  except  one,  so  that  they  might 
have  become  an  easy  prey,  and  instead  of  those  five  brave  men,  who 
lost  their  lives,  three  times  that  number  might  have  suffered.  The 
two  Christys  were  out  about  a  week,  before  they  could  make  their 
escape,  the  Indians  one  night  passed  so  nigh  to  them,  that  they  could 
have  touched  them  with  their  guns.  Editor, 


(  170  ) 

Davis,  who  made  his  escape.  The  Indians  then  returned 
to  Logan's  house,  where  captain  Dunning  and  his  party 
came  on  them  and  they  fired  some  time  at  each  other; 
Dunning  had  one  man  wounded. 

I  forgot  to  give  you  an  account  of  a  murder  done  at 
our  own  fort  in  Shearman's  valley  in  July  1756,  the 
Indians  waylaid  the  fort  in  harvest  time  and  kept  quiet 
until  the  reapers  were  gone;  James  Wilson  remaining 
sometime  l)ehind  the  rest,  and  I  not  being  gone  to  my 
business,  which  was  hunting  deer,  for  the  use  of  the 
company,  Wilson  standing  at  the  fort  gate,  I  desired 
liberty  to  shoot  his  gun  at  a  mark,  upon  which  he  gave 
me  his  gun,  and  I  shot ;  the  Indians  on  the  upper  side 
of  the  fort,  thinking  they  were  discovered,  rushed  on  a 
daughter  of  Robert  Miller,  and  instantly  killed  her,  and 
shot  at  James  Simmeson,  they  then  made  the  best  of  it 
that  they  could,  and  killed  the  wife  of  James  Wilson* 
and  the  widow  Gibson,  and  took  Hugh  Gibson  and 
Betsey  Henry  prisoners;  the  reapers'being  forty  in  num- 
ber returned  to  the  fort  and  the  Indians  made  off. 

Sir,  having  gone  through  all  I  can  remember,  you 
will  please  to  take  out  what  will  answer  your  purpose. 

I  shall  relate  an  affair  told  me  by  James  M'Clung,  a 
man  whom  I  can  confide  in  for  truth,  it  being  in  his 
neighborhood;  an  Indian  came  to  a  tavern,  called  for  a 
gill  of  whiskey,  drank  some  out  of  it ;  when  there  came 
another  Indian  in,  he  called  for  a  gill  also,  and  set  it  on 
the  table,  without  drinking  any  of  it,  and  took  out  the 
first  Indian,  discoursing  with  him  for  some  time;  the 
first  Indian  then  stripped  himself  naked,  and  lay  down 
on  the  floor,  and  stretched  himself,  the  other  Indian 

*  While  the  Indian  was  scalping  Mrs  Wilson,  the  relator  shot  at 
and  wounded  him  but  he  made  his  escape.  Euitor. 


'  \ 


'  V 


(  171  ) 

stood  at  the  door,  and  when  he  was  ready,  he  stepped 
forward  with  his  knife  in  his  hand  and  stabbed  the 
Indian  who  was  lying  to  the  heart;  the  other  received 
the  stab,  jumped  to  his  feet,  drank  both  the  gills  of 
whiskey  off,  and  dropped  down  dead;  the  white  people 
made  a  prisoner  of  the  other  Indian,  and  sent  to  the 
head  of  the  nation,  two  of  them  came  and  examined 
the  Indian,  who  was  a  i)risoner,  and  told  them  to  let 
him  go,  he  had  done  right. 

Sir,  yours,  ttc, 

ROBERT  ROBISON. 


An  account  of  Samuel  BelVs  encounter  with  three  Indians. 

Among  the  many  achievements  against  the  Indians 
in  our  Avars  with  them,  few  exceed  that  i)erformed  in 
our  own  neighbourhood,  by  Samuel  Bell,  formerly 
owner  of  the  noted  farm  on  the  stoney  ridge,  five  miles 
below  Carlisle,  which  was  as  follows: 

Sometime  after  Braddock's  defeat,  he  and  his  brother 
James  Bell,  agreed  to  go  into  Shearman's  valley  to  hunt 
for  deer,  and  were  to  meet  on  Croghan's,  now  Sterrett's 
gap  on  tlie  Blue  mountain,  by  some  means  or  other  they 
did  not  meet,  and  Samuel  slept  all  night  in  a  waste 
cabbin  belonging  to  Mr.  Patton  on  Shearman's  creek:  in 
the  morning  he  had  not  travelled  far  before  he  spied 
three  Indians,  who  at  the  same  time  saw  him,  they  all 
fired  at  each  other,  he  wounded  one  of  tlie  Indians,  but 
received  no  damage,  except  through  his  clothes  by  the 
balls,  several  shots  were  fired  on  both  sides,  for  each 
took  a  tree ;  he  took  out  his  tomahawk  and  stuck  it  into 


•1 


i\ 


(  172) 

the  tree  behind  which  he  stood,  so  that  should  they  ap- 
proach he  might  be  prepared,  the  tree  was  grazed  with 
the  Indians  balls,  and  he  had  thoughts  of  making  his 
escape  by  flight,  but  on  reflection  had  doubts  of  his 
being  able  to  out  run  them.  After  some  time  the  two 
Indians  took  the  wounded  one  and  put  him  over  the 
fence,  and  one  took  one  course  and  the  other  another, 
taking  a  compass  so  that  Bell  could  no  longer  secure 
himself  by  the  tree,  but  by  trying  to  ensnare  him  they 
had  to  expose  themselves,  by  which  means  he  had  the 
good  fortune  shoot  one  of  them  dead,  the  other  ran  and 
took  the  dead  Indian  on  his  back,  one  leg  over  each 
shoulder:  by  this  time  Bell's  gun  was  again  loaded,  he 
then  ran  after  the  Indian  until  he  came  within  about 
four  yards  of  him,  fired,  and  shot  through  the  dead  In- 
dian, and  lodged  his  ball  in  the  other,  who  dropped  the 
dead  man  and  ran  off";  in  his  return  coming  past  the 
fence  where  the  wounded  Indian  was,  he  dispatched 
him,  but  did  not  know  he  had  killed  the  third  Indian 
until  his  bones  were  found  afterwards. 


The  folloiving  Narrative,  we  had  from  one  of  the  men  who 
icas  at  the  battle  of  Muncey,  on  whose  veracity  loe  can 
depend. 

In  the  year  1755,  Peter  Shaver,  John  Savage,  and  two 
other  men  were  killed  at  the  mouth  of  Shaver's  creek  on 
Juniata  by  the  Indians.  February  1756,  a  party  of  In- 
dians from  Shemoken  came  to  Juniata,  the  first  place 
they  came  on  the  river  was  at  Hugh  Mitcheltree's,  who 
was  gone  to  Carlisle,  and  had  got  a  young  man  of  the 


(  173) 

name  of  Edward  Nicholoiis  to  stay  with  his  wife  until 
he  would  return,  the  Indians  killed  them  both.  The 
same  party  of  Indians  went  up  the  river  where  the  Lu- 
kens's  now  lives ;  William  Wilcox  at  the  time  lived  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  whose  wife  and  eldest  son 
had  come  over  the  river  on  some  business ;  the  Indians 
came  while  they  were  there  and  killed  old  Edward 
Nicholous  and  his  wife;  and  took  Joseph  Nicholous  and 
Thomas  and  Catharine  Nicholous  and  John  Wilcox, 
James  Armstrong's  wife  and  two  children  prisoners. 

An  Indian  named  James  Cotties  who  wished  to  be 
captain  of  this  party,  when  they  did  not  choose  him  he 
would  not  go  with  them.  He  and  a  boy  went  to  Shear- 
man's creek  and  killed  William  Sheridan  and  his  family 
thirteen  in  number,  they  then  went  down  the  creek  to 
where  three  old  persons  lived,  two  men  and  a  woman  of 
the  name  of  French,  which  they  also  killed,  of  which 
he  often  boasted  afterwards  that  he  and  the  boy  took 
more  scalps  than  the  whole  party.  In  the  year  1757 
the  same  Cotties  went  to  Hunter's  fort,  seven  miles  above 
Harrisburg  and  killed  a  young  man  of  the  name  of 
William  Martin,  under  a  chesnut  tree  gathering  ches- 
nuts. 

After  the  war  was  over  he  came  to  Hunter's  fort  again 
and  made  his  boast  what  a  good  friend  he  had  been  to 
the  white  people  in  the  time  of  the  war.  At  the  same 
time  another  Indian  who  had  been  friendly  to  the  in- 
habitants the  time  of  the  war  named  Hambus,  said  he 
was  a  liar,  for  that  he  had  done  all  the  mischief  he  could, 
upon  which  the  two  Indians  began  to  fight,  but  the 
white  people  parted  them.  Hambus  told  him  that  he 
had  killed  Martin  within  sight  of  the  spot  where  they 
now  stood.    The  same  day  Cotties  got  drunk  and  fell 


t  i] 


(  174  ) 


;' 


asleo])  on  a  bench;  when  Hambus  saw  that  he  was  nsleep 
he  struck  his  tomahawk  into  his  head  and  killed  him. 
In  September  1768,  about  one  hundred  of  us  went  to 
take  the  Indian  town  at  the  great  island,  and  went  up 
to  fort  Augusta  where  we  sent  a  man  forward  to  see 
whether  Andrew  IMenture  was  there,  but  lie  was  not;  he 
asked  where  he  was  and  was  told  he  had  gone  to  the 
plantation.  We  had  a})|ir('hended  that  IMenture  knew 
of  our  coming  and  had  gone  to  inform  the  Indians  at 
the  town  called  (Jreat  Island,  or  Monsey  town,  but  when 
we  got  to  the  fort  the  onicers  that  lay  there  wanted  to 
persuade  us  not  to  go  over,  as  the  Monsey  Indians  were 
friendly  to  the  white  i>(.'0}  le.  liut  as  this  was  contra- 
dicted ]>y  somi'  we  concluded  to  go.  When  we  had 
crossed  the  river  we  saw  Menture  coming  down  in  a 
canoe  with  a  hog  and  some  corn  which  he  had  brought 
from  his  jtlantation.  When  he  came  near  we  called  to 
him,  upon  which  he  landed  and  eniiuired  our  business, 
we  told  him,  and  asked  his  advice  wliether  it  was  proper 
to  proceed  or  not.  He  said  they  were  bad  Indians,  and 
that  we  might  use  them  as  we  pleased.  We  went  that 
night  to  Menture's  })lantation  and  next  morning  crossed 
the  Monsey  hill,  and  discovered  fires,  where  the  Indians 
lay  the  night  before.  Here  we  consulted  whether  to  pro- 
ceed or  not;  at  length  William  I^atterson  turned  back, 
and  we  all  followed.  When  arrived  at  the  top  of  the 
Monsey  hill,  we  met  witii  a  party  of  Indians  which  we 
engaged,  had  two  men  killed,  and  four  wounded,  two  of 
which  died  that  night.  We  then  went  and  secreted  the 
dead  bodies  in  a  small  stream  to  prevent  their  being  dis- 
«'overed  by  the  enemy.  By  that  time  it  was  night,  and 
we  went  on  about  twenty  perches,  wh(>re  the  Indians  lired 
on  us  from  behind  the  point  of  a  hill.     About  twelve  of  us 


%i 


(  IT'")  ) 


ran  U])  the  liill  where  we  hoard  tliem  running  l)ut  could 
not  see  them.  We  tlien  came  back  to  where  they  had 
fired  on  us  at  first,  and  found  that  the  rest  of  our  i)arty 
were  gone.  We  heard  somebody  coming  after,  stopped 
to  see  who  it  was,  George  Allen  and  two  or  three  n)ore 
of  our  men  came  up  to  us.  We  cliose  Allen  to  i)ilot  us 
into  the  path,  which  he  undertook  to  do;  but  after  (ravel- 
ling along  the  side  of  ^lonscy  hill,  with  much  difiiculty, 
until  midnight,  I  told  him  we  were  going  the  wrong 
road;  he  told  me  if  I  knew  the  road  better  to  go  l)cfore. 
We  then  directed,  our  course  southward  until  near  day 
break,  when  we  came  to  a  path,  which  Allen  informed 
us  led  from  the  Great  Island,  and  crost  the  north  branch 
at  Iskepeck  falls:  in  this  })ath  we  travelled  initil  day 
light,  when  we  saw  a  smoke,  and  i)roceedingten  or  twelve 
})erches  we  saw  some  Indians  sitting  al)OUt  afire;  I  then 
turned  to  the  right  into  the  woods,  and  some  of  our  men 
followed  me  and  sonte  went  on  in  the  path  till  the  In- 
dians saw  them,  and  sctized  their  guns;  we  tlien  raised 
our  gunsto  fire,  but  the  Indians  cried  dontshoot  brothers, 
dont  shOot;  we  answered  we  will  not  if  you  do  not;  wo 
then  went  up  to  them  and  asked  where  tbey  bad  been; 
they  said  they  had  been  at  the  Moravian  town  buying 
goods;  we  told  them  wo  had  an  (  ngagement  tb(»  evening 
before  with  some  of  their  people;  they  said  it  was  im- 
possible, as  there  were  no  Indians  at  the(ireat  Island 
but  a  few  old  men  and  boys,  tb(>  rest  having  all  gone 
out  a  hunting;!  told  them  J  knew  better;  that  they 
were  gone  to  Tuscarora  and  Shearman's  valley  to  kill 
the  white  })eoj)le;  that  wo  had  l>ecn  waylaid  iit  HntfalcK! 
creek  by  them,  and  had  live  men  killed  and  one  wounded  ; 
that  .lames  Patterson's  shot  i)ouch  and  j)owder  born  bad 
been  found  near  the  place,  and   hewasatireat  Island 


(  176  ) 


^     I! 


K' 


Indian,  and  thoy  must  come  with  us.  The  three  In- 
dians began  to  tremble,  and  leaving  the  victuals  they 
were  preparing,  proceeded  with  us. 

After  we  had  travelled  a  short  distance,  I  asked  George 
Allen  what  we  should  do  with  the  prisoners,  he  said  we 
would  take  them  to  the  fort  and  deliver  them  up  to  the 
commander ;  I  told  him  if  we  do  that  perliaps  they  will 
let  them  go,  or  send  them  to  Philadelphia,  where  tliey 
would  be  used  better  than  ourselves  by  the  Quakers; 
and  you  know  what  a  defeat  I  got  a  few  weeks  ago  at 
Bulf.do  creek,  where  five  of  my  neighbours  was  killed 
and  I  had  hard  running  to  save  my  own  life;  I  have  de- 
clared revenge  on  the  first  Indian  that  I  sav/,  and  am 
glad  that  the  opportunity  now  ofiers ;  why  said  Allen 
would  you  kill  them  yourself,  for  you  can  get  no  person 
here  to  helj)  you;  there  is  enough  said  I  that  will  help 
me  to  kill  them.  Where  will  vou  kill  them  said  vMlen  ; 
I  told  him  on  the  hill  that  is  before  us,  which  lies  be- 
tween the  two  branches  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  near 
the  north  branch.  When  we  came  to  the  top  of  the  hill 
the  prisoners  asked  liberty  lo  eat  some  victuals,  which 
we  allowed  them  ;  they  directed  us  to  where  we  might 
find  it  among  their  1)aggage,  we  went  and  found  it,  and 
gave  it  to  them.  While  tliey  were  eating  we  concluded 
who  would  shoot  at  them,  there  was  six  of  us  willing  to 
shoot,  two  men  to  each  prisoner,  and  as  soon  as  they 
were  done  eating  we  told  tliem  to  march  on  before  us, 
and  when  they  had  gone  about  thirty  yards,  we  fired  at 
them  and  the  three  fell,  l)ut  one  of  them  named  (Jeorge 
Allen,  after  the  George  Allen  that  was  with  us,  was  shot 
only  through  the  arm,  and  fell  with  that  arm  up})ern..)st 
and  bloodied  his  body,  which  mad(!  us  believe  that  he 
was  shot  through  his  body;  but  after  he  was  scalped, 


(  177  ) 

having  a  good  pair  of  Icggins  on,  one  of  the  men  had 
staid  behind  to  take  them  off,  l)efore  he  could  get  any 
but  one,  the  Indian  started  up  and  ran;  the  man  was 
surprised  at  Jiis  raising  from  the  dead,  and  before  he 
could  get  any  assistance  he  liad  made  his  escape     He 
afterwards  told,  that   running   down  the  hill   he   fell 
aslee]),  that  after  he  recovered,  he  got  up  to  run  but  the 
skin  of  his  face,  the  scalp  being  off,  came  down  over  his 
eyes  so  that  he  could  not  see,  he  then  look  off  the  leg- 
gm  that  was  left,  and  bound  it  round  his  face,  and  when 
he  came  to  a  spring,  he  took  the  cold  moss  of  the  stones 
laid  It  on  his  head  to  keep  the  hot  sun  from  beating  in 
upon  his  brains,  and  made  out  to  get  to  the  (;reat  Island 
when  he  recovered.     He  threatened  to  take  revenge  on 
George  Allen,  his  name  sake,  and  James  Ciallaher,  not 
that  they  wer(>  worse  than  the  others,  but  because  they 
were  the  only  persons  he  was  acfpiainted  with-it  how- 
ever 80  hapi)ened  that  he  never  had  them  in  his  power 


(   1T8  ) 


Air 


M 


i       ■( 


The  following  Narratives  have  been  received  from  j^ci'sons, 
who  hare  been  aaiuainted  with  many  circumstances  here 
related  all  happened  in  their  own  time ;  some  things  they 
hare  been  eye  witnesses  to,  and  others,  they  have  from  un- 
doubted authority.  Our  correspondods  are  mch  as  ive 
have  every  reason  to  place  the  fullest  confidence  in  as  far 
as  their  knowledge  of  the  facts  extends. 

In  tlie  year  IT-")!),  captain  Jacobs,  an  Indian  chief  and 
forty  warriors,  came  upon  the  Coves,  in  Cumberland 
county,  burned  and  destroyed  that  little  settlement, 
killed  many  and  took  a  number  of  prisoners.  One 
Hugh  M'Swine  was  abroad  at  the  time,  when  he  came 
liome,  he  followed  after  and  overtook  them  at  Tussey's 
Narrows;  Jacobs  took  him  for  a  spy  and  made  him 
prisoner;  there  was  with  this  party  of  Indians,  one 
Jackson  a  white  man,  who  had  joined  the  Indians,  and 
was  more  irdustrious  and  revengeful,  than  the  native 
Indians;  nc.rt  morning  capt.  Jacobs  sent  M'Swine  and 
another  prisoner,  under  the  care  of  Jackson,  and  one 
warrior,  by  whom  he  also  sent  his  horse,  and  a  silver 
mounted  gun,  while  they  went  in  quest  of  some  more  of 
the  poor  unhappy  inhabitants;  the  Indian  and  Jackson, 
with  tli(^  two  prisoners,  travelled  until  night  came  on, 
when  they  took  up  their  lodging  in  a  waste  cabbin,  and 
sent  M'Swine  to  cut  rails  to  make  a  fire,  but  when  he 
got  the  ax  he  began  to  think  how  lie  could  manage  to 
kill,  both  Indian  '  white  man,  and  inmiediately  put 
his  plan  into  execution;  he  went  in  with  his  iix  split 
down  the  Indian,  but  before  he  had  time  to  strike  an- 
otlier  blow,  .lacksDU  was  on  his  feet,  and  they  instantly 


(  179  ) 


got  in  grips  with  eacli  otlier;  they  were  both  very  strong 
men,  and  after  they  had  struggled  a  long  time,  M'Swine 
began  to  fail,  and  was  still  calling  on  the  other  man  to 
assist  him,  ])ut  he  stood  trembling,  and  could  do  noth- 
ing; at  length  M'Swine  had  the  good  fortune  to  get  one 
of  the  guns  in  his  hand,  knocked  down  his  antagonist, 
and  so  put  an  end  to  him,  he  scalped  both  the  Indian 
and  Jackson;  and  next  evening  arrived  at  fort  Cumber- 
land,* with  capt.  Jacobs's  horse  and  gun;  col.  Washing- 
ton sent  him  to  Winchester,  (Virginia)  where  he  got  j)aid 
for  the  scalps,  horse  and  gun,  and  received  a  lieutenants 
commission. 

About  this  time  there  was  a  i^arty  of  Cherokees,  sev- 
enty in  number,  who  came  to  the  assistance  of  the 
j)eople  of  Pennsylvania;  they  went  in  pursuit  of  a  party 
of  Indians  as  far  as  the  west  side  of  sideling  hill,  when 
they  despaired  of  coming  up  with  them  and  returned. 
There  was  some  white  men  along  with  these  Cherokecs 
among  whom  was  Hugh  M'Swine:  this  party  in  their 
return  fell  in  with  another  party  of  Indians  coming  into 
the  settlements  to  murder,  and  a  skirmish  ensued,  but 
by  some  means  M'Swine  was  parted  from  his  company, 
and  pursued  by  three  Indians,  his  gun  being  loaded,  he 
turned  round  and  shot  the  one  nearest  to  him,  and  then 
ran  on,  and  charging  again,  shot  another,  upon  which 
the  third  gave  a  yell  and  turned  back:  the  C'herokees 
shortly  after  brought  in  four  scali)S  and  two  prisoners  of 
the  enemy,  one  of  which   was  a  Sfjuaw,  who  had  !)e(  n 

■*  We  liiivc  lii'cn  iiiinniH'd,  lliat  the  reason  of  M 'Swine's  ;roiiiir  so 
(|ui('kly  to  fort  Cuiiiherlund  was,  eapt.  ilacolis  witli  liis  jiaity  iu- 
1eM(I(v'.  !o  attack  tlie  fort  the  day  after  M'Swine  arrived  tliei'e.  lait 
liy  his  j.dviiijr  itiforuiatioii  to  col.  Washinjitoii,  he  was  iirepared  for 
thcni,  and  they  wore  disippointed  in  tlieir  jihiiis,  ihi'  foil  was  not 
tuken.  I'lnriou. 


n 


4 


Hi 


w 


;l 


(180) 

twelve  times  at  war.  About  this  time  some  CherokeeS 
and  white  men  went  to  reconnoitre  fort  Duquesne,  and 
in  returning  home  the  white  men  was  not  able  to  keep 
uj)  with  the  Indians,  and  so  were  left  behind  in  the 
wilderness,  and  some  of  them  got  home  in  a  very  dis- 
tressing condition.  Hugh  M'Swine,  after  many  danger- 
ous enterprises,  and  much  toil  and  fatigue,  many  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes  with  the  Indians,  in  defence  of  his 
country,  fell  by  them  in  a  battle  near  I^igonier. 

William  Mitchel,  an  inhabitant  of  Conococheague, 
had  collected  a  number  of  reapers  to  cut  down  his  grain ; 
having  gone  out  to  the  field,  the  reapers  all  laid  down 
their  guns  at  the  fence,  and  set  in  to  rea)),  the  Indians 
suffered  them  to  reap  on  for  some  time  till  they  got  out 
into  the  open  field,  they  then  secured  their  guns,  killed 
and  captured  them  every  man. 

At  another  time  there  came  a  party  of  Indians  into 
Conococheague  and  took  a  number  of  scalps  and  pris- 
oners, for  at  that  time  the  inliabitants  were  never  secure, 
no  sooner  liad  one  party  finished  tlieir  work  of  destruc- 
tion and  retreated,  than  another  commenced  their  depre- 
dations; however  ^arge  company  of  men  was  quickly 
collected  and  pursued  those  Indians,  overtook  them  at 
sideling  liill  and  surprised  them  in  their  camj),  upon 
which  tlie  Indians  ran  ofi'  with  the  greatest  ])reci})ita- 
tion  and  left  thv^ir  guns  behind,  but  the  white  men  neglect- 
ing to  secure  them,  the  Indians  taking  a  circuitous  course, 
})rocured  their  guns,  cnme  upon  them  .'ind  defeated  tliem, 
but  whether  the  prisoners  were  rehiiised  or  not  we  do 
not  remember  of  hearing. 


Vk  ' 


(  181  ) 


An  account  of  the  Miraculous  Escape  of  John  Steel. 

While  John  Steel  was  in  his  house  by  himself,  having 
laid  down  in  a  bed  on  the  second  floor  to  rest,  when  he 
was  surprised  by  an  Indian,  who  had  arrived  near  the 
head  of  the  stairs.  Steel  rose  up  terrified  at  the  sight  of 
an  enemy,  seized  a  block  of  wood,  knocked  the  Indian 
down,  jumped  out  of  a  window  and  ran  towards  the 
river,  followed  by  other  Indians,  who  had  nearly  over- 
taken him,  when  he  arrived,  happily  a  ))oat  passing,  the 
men  fired  at  the  Indians,  upon  which  they  fled,  and 
Steel  was  taken  on  board.  His  feet  were  so  cut  and 
mangled,  having  been  obliged  to  run  barefoot,  that  he 
was  unable  to  stand,  though  he  never  felt  the  pain  while 
running. 


An  Account  of  the  Captivity  of  Hugh  Gibson. 

I  was  taken  captive  by  the  Indians,  from  Robison's 
fort  in  Shearman's  valley,  in  July,  17oG,  at  which  time 
my  mother  was  killed ;  I  was  taken  back  to  their  towns, 
where  I  suffered  much  irom  hunger  ;'nd  abuse:  many 
times  they  beat  me  most  severely,  and  once  they  sent 
me  to  gather  wood  to  burn  myself,  but  I  cannot  tell 
whether  they  intended  to  do  it  or  to  frighten  me:  liow- 
ever  I  did  not  remain  long  before  I  was  adopted  into  an 
Indian  family,  and  then  I  lived  as  they  did,  though  the 
living  was  very  poor.  I  was  then  about  fourteen  years 
years  of  age:  my  Indian  father's  name  was  Busiiueetam : 
he  was  lame  in  consecjuence  of  a  wound  received  by  his 
knife  in  skinning  a  deer;  and  ))eing  unable  to  walk,  he 
ordered  me  to  drive  forks  in  the  ground  and  cover  it 
with  bark  to  make  a  lodge  for  him  to  lie  in,  but  the 
VJi 


m-i 


\A' 


I  '« 


(  182) 


forks  not  being  secure  they  gave  way,  and  the  bark  fell 
down  upon  him  and  hurt  him  very  much,  which  put 
him  in  a  great  rage,  and  calling  fur  liis  knife,  ordered  us 
to  carry  him  upon  a  blanket  into  the  hut,  and  I  must 
be  one  that  helps  to  carry  him  in,  while  we  were  carry- 
ing him  I  saw  him  hunting  for  the  knife,  but  my  Indian 
mother  liad  taken  care  to  convey  it  away,  and  when  wc 
had  got  him  again  fixed  in  his  l)ed,  my  mother  ordered 
me  to  conceal  myself,  which  I  did;  I  afterwards  heard 
him  reproving  her  for  putting  away  the  knife;  for  by 
this  time  I  liad  learned  to  understand  a  little  of  their 
language.  However  his  passion  wore  off  and  we  did 
very  well  for  the  future. 

Some  time  after  this  all  the  i)risoners  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood were  collected  to  be  spectators  of  the  cruel 
death  of  a  poor  unhapj)y  woman,  a  prisoner,  amongst 
which  number  I  was.  The  particulars  is  ;is  follows, 
when  col.  Armstrong  destroyed  the  Kittaning  this  wo- 
man fled  to  the  white  men,  but  by  some  means  lost  them 
and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  who  stripping  her 
naked,  bound  her  to  a  post  and  applying  liot  irons  to 
her  whilst  the  skin  stuck  to  the  iron  at  every  touch,  she 
screaming  in  the  most  i)itiful  manner,  and  crying  for 
mercy,  but  these  ruthless  barbarians  were  deaf  to  her 
agonizing  shrieks  and  prayers;  and  continued  their 
cruelty  till  death  released  her  from  the  torture  of  those 
hellish  fiends.  Of  this  shocking  scene  at  which  humnn 
nature  shudders  the  prisoners  were  all  brought  to  be 
spectators. 

I  shall  omit  giving  any  particular  account  of  our  en- 
camping and  decami)ing  and  our  moving  from  })lace  to 
place,  as  every  one  knows  that  this  is  the  constant  em- 
ployment of  Indians.     I  had  now  liecome  })retty  well 


( I8;:i ) 


acquainted  with  their  manners  and  customs,  had  learned 
their  hmguage,  and  was  become  a  tolerable  good  hunter, 
was  admitted  to  their  dances,  to  their  sacrifices,  and  re- 
ligicas  ceremonies,  some  of  them  have  a  tolerable  good 
idea  of  the  Supreme  Being,  and  I  have  heard  some  of 
them  very  devoutly  thanking  their  Maker,  that  tliey  had 
seen  another  si)ring,  and  had  seen  the  flowers  upon  the 
earth  ;  I  observed  that  their  prayers,  and  praises,  was 
for  temporal  things ;  they  have  one  bad  custom  amongst 
them,  that  if  one  man  kill  another,  the  friends  of  the 
deceased  if  they  cannot  get  the  murderer,  they  will  kill 
the  nearest  a  kin.     I  one*     aw  an  instance  of  this,  two 
of  them  (juarrelled  and  the  one  killed  the  other,  upon 
which  the  friends  of  the  deceased  rose  in  pursuit  of  the 
murderer,  but  he  having  made  his  escape,  his  friends 
were  all  hiding  themselves,  but  the  pursuers  ha]>pened 
to  find  a  brother  of  the  murderers,  a  boy,  concealed  un- 
der a  log,  they  immediately  pulled  him  out  from  his 
concealment,  he  ])lead  strongly  that  it  was  not  him  that 
killed  the  man;  this  had  no  weight  with  the  avengers 
of  blood,  they  instantly  sunk  their  tomahawks  into  his 
body  and  dispatched  him.     But  they  have  some  rules 
and  regulations  among  them  that  is  good ;  their  ordinary 
way  of  living  is  miserable  and  poor,  often  without  food. 
They  are  amazing  dirty  in  their  cookery,  sometimes  they 
catch  a  number  of  frogs,  and  hang  them  up  to  dry,  when 
a  deer  is  killed  they  will  split  up  the  guts  and  give  them 
a  plunge  or  two  in  the  water,  and  then  dry  them,  and 
when  they  run  out  of  i)rovisions,  they  will  take  some  of 
the  dryed  frogs,  and  some  of  the  deers  guts  and  boil 
them,  till  the  Uesh  of  the   frogs  is  dissolved,  they  then 
sup  the  broth. 


% 


\f 


(  184  ) 


iii( 


\i 


ti 


Having  now  been  with  them  a  considerable  time,  d, 
favourable   opportunity   offered   for  me  to  regain  my 
liberty,  my  old  father  Busfjuetam,  lost  a  horse  and  he 
Bent  me  to  hunt  for  him,  after  searching  some  time  I 
came  home  and  told  him  that  I  had  discovered  his 
tracks  at  some  considerable  distance,  and  I  thought  I 
could  find  him,  that  I  would  take  my  gun  and  pro- 
vision, and  would  hunt  for  three  or  four  days,  and  if  I 
could  kill  a  bear,  or  deer  I  would  pack  home  the  meat 
on  the  horse;  accordingly  I  packed  up  some  provision, 
and  started  towards  the  white  settlements,  not  fearing 
pursuit  for  some  days,  and  by  that  time  I  would  be  out 
of  reach  of  the  pursuers.      But  before  I  was  aware  I 
was  almost  at  a  large  camp  of  Indians,  by  a  creek  side ; 
this  was  in  the  evening  and  I  had  to  conceal  myself  in 
a  thicket  till  it  was  dark,  and  then  passed  the  camp,  and 
crossed  the  creek  in  one  of  their  canoes;  I  was  much 
afraid  that  their  dogs  would  give  the  alarm,  but  happiiy 
got  safe  past.     I  travelled  on  for  several  days,  and  on 
my  way  I  spied  a  bear,  shot  at  and  wounded  him,  so 
that  he  could  not  run;  but  being  too  hasty  ran  up  to 
him  with  my  tomahawk,  before  I  could  give  him  a 
blow,  he  gave  me  a  severe  stroke  on  the  leg,  which 
pained  me  very  much,  and  retarded  my  journey  much 
longer  than  it  otherwise  would  have  been;  however  I 
travelled  on  as  well  as  I  could  till  I  got  to  the  Alleghany 
river,  where  I  collected  some  poles,  with  which  I  made 
a  raft,  and  bound  it  together  with  elm  bark  and  grape- 
vines, by  which  means  I  got  over  the  river,  but  in  cross- 
ing which  I  lost  my  gun.     I  arrived  at  fort  Pitt  in  four- 
teen days  from  the  time  of  my  start,  after  a  captivity  of 
five  years  and  four  months. 


I; 


(  185  ) 


d- 


Tdkhuj  of  Fart  GrttnrlU. 

In  the  time  of  tlie  wnr  called  Brjuldock's  war,  the 
province  of  Pennsylvania  thought  proper  to  erect  a  fort, 
at  a  place  called  Old  Town,  at  the  ])lace  where  Kisheco- 
(piilles  creek  empties  into  Juniata ;  and  stationed  a  com- 
])any  of  enlisted  trooi)s  therein.  Fort  Granvill  had  not 
stood  long  l)cfore  it  was  attacked  hy  a  body  of  Indians, 
the  fort  being  near  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  so  that  they 
could  not  annoy  them  from  the  fort;  they  had  likewise 
])repared  a  large  quantity  of  knots  of  pine  and  other 
combustible  stufl',  into  which  they  put  fire,  and  kei)t  a 
constant  throwing  the  flaming  fire  brands  against  the 
wall  of  the  fort,  and  by  that  means  set  the  fort  in  a  flame, 
and  whilst  the  commander  of  the  fort  was  endeavouring 
to  extinguish  the  fire  he  was  killed ;  the  next  in  com- 
mand whose  name  was  Turner,  upon  this  surrendered 
the  fort,  and  every  man  was  massacred  or  captivated, 
except  one  man  that  was  wounded,  who  got  ofl"  and 
came  to  Carlisle  with  great  difficulty.  When  they  got  to 
their  towns  they  burned  Turner  in  a  most  cruel  manner. 

The  next  attack  was  upon  Bigham's  fort  in  Tuscarora, 
which  they  took  and  burnt,  killed  and  captivated  all 
that  was  in  it,  but  the  manner  of  taking  it  we  cannot 
tell,  for  we  never  heard  of  an}'  that  returned.  About 
the  same  time  they  killed  Robert  Cochran  on  his  own 
plantation  and  captivated  his  wife  and  son. 

The  Indians  at  one  of  their  inroads  murdered  a  family 
of  seven  persons  on  Shearman's  creek,  from  thence  they 
passed  over  the  mountain  at  Croghan's  now  Sterrett'g 
gap,  and  wounded  a  man,  killed  a  horse,  and  captured 
Mrs.  Boyde,  her  two  sons  and  fi  daughter,  upon  Conodo- 
guinet  creek, 


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Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTIR.N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  S7a-4S03 


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w. 


i 


(  186) 


'  i 


wu 


Another  time  they  came  down  upon  the  frontiers  of 
Lancaster  now  Daupliin  County;  the  first  assault  was 
upon  a  waggon  belonging  to  a  german  in  which  he 
was  endeavoring  to  move  off,  but  being  killed  a  small 
distance  behind  the  waggon,  those  with  the  waggon  tied 
to  a  fort  not  far  distant,  the  men  in  the  fort  being  alarmed 
at  the  report  of  the  Indians  guns,  came  to  see  the  oc- 
casion of  it,  and  met  a  woman  running  towards  them 
crying;  they  proceeded  to  where  the  waggon  stood,  and 
at  some  distance  behind  the  man  lay,  tomahawked  & 
scalped,  and  the  brains  issuing  from  the  wounds,  al- 
though he  was  still  breathing.  The  waggon  being  left 
standing  in  the  same  place,  it  was  pillaged  and  destroyed 
in  the  night. 

The  next  day  twelve  men  were  sent  to  acquaint  the 
men  at  the  next  fort  about  eight  miles  distant  of  what 
had  happened,  who  were  fired  upon  from  an  ambuscade 
and  were  killed  and  wounded  all  but  two,  who  were 
pursued,  but  escaped. 

Mrs.  Boggs  of  the  same  neighbourhood,  while  riding 
to  a  neighbours  house,  was  fired  upon  by  the  Indians, 
her  horse  killed,  and  she  with  a  young  child  taken  pris- 
oner, whom  they  treated  in  the  most  barbarous  and 
cruel  manner,  not  sutlering  the  child  to  suck,  sometimes 
throwing  it  in  the  road,  and  kicking  it  before  them ; 
after  three  days  marching  in  this  manner,  they  carried 
the  child  into  the  Avoods,  where  they  murdered  and 
scalped  it,  with  savage  cruelty. 


(  187  ) 

A   Relation  of  a   Victory  obtained  over  some    Indians  in 

Paxton. 

The  exposed  and  defenceless  state  of  the  frontier  in- 
habitants compelled  them  to  associate  together  and  de- 
vise the  best  means  possible  for  their  own  security.  For 
this  purpose  four  men,  living  in  one  house,  erected  a 
fort  round  it,  which  proved  of  great  utility.  A  ca})tain 
with  his  company  of  men,  being  overtaken  by  night  on 
their  route,  stopped  to  pass  the  night  in  the  fort ;  by 
some  means  the  fastening  of  the  gate  had  been  neglected : 
a  party  of  Indians,  who,  no  doubt,  had  reconnoitred 
the  strength  of  the  garrison  in  the  day  time,  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  neglect,  and  having  entered  the  gate, 
closed  it,  and  then  summoned  them  to  open  the  house. 
As  the  arrival  of  the  soldiers  had  been  after  dark,  it  is 
probable  the  enemy  were  unacquainted  with  it,  and  ex- 
pected an  easy  conquest;  but  the  captain  having  dis- 
posed part  of  his  men  in  an  advantageous  position,  and 
keeping  the  remainder  in  reserve,  opened  the  door ;  on 
the  entering  of  the  enemy,  they  were  fired  upon,  which 
dismayed  them  so  much  that  they  began  to  retreat,  but 
being  pursued  by  the  reserve,  and  unable  to  find  the 
gate  of  the  fort,  having  fastened  it  on  their  entrance  to 
prevent  the  escape  of  the  white  men,  they  were  all  slain. 


Some  of  the  Modes  of   Torture   Practised  by  the  Indians. 

The  manner  of  torture  is  various,  and  savage  inven- 
tion has  been  exhausted  on  multitudes  of  the  unhappy 
settlers,  who  expected  to  obtain  an  easy  aflluence  by 
honest  industry.    Few,  we  hope,  ever  underwent  more 


(1  i 


(  188  ) 

cruel  tortures  than  a  young  man,  to  which  George 
Woods,  the  relator,  and  some  others  was  o})liged  to  be 
witness. 

As  a  prelude  to  their  cruelty,  they  cut  holes  in  his 
cheeks,  through  which  they  passed  a  small  cord,  and 
having  tied  it  to  a  sapling,  two  of  the  Indians,  having 
each  a  heated  gun  barrel,  began  by  searing  his  naked 
body ;  when  he  attempted  to  escape  by  moving  round 
the  tree,  he  was  met  by  another,  which  forced  him  to 
return ;  this,  with  the  friction  of  the  cords  on  the  flesh 
of  his  cheeks,  was  torment  indescribable,  this,  however, 
was  but  the  beginning  of  his  sufferings.  Being  satiated 
and  weary  of  this  cruel  sport,  they  tore  the  scalp  from 
his  head,  and  applied  hot  ashes  and  coals  to  the  scull ; 
when  pain  was  at  length  lost  in  excess  their  cruelty  sug- 
gested new  and  horrible  means  of  exciting  it.  For  this 
purpose  they  opened  the  abdomen,  they  separated  one 
end  of  his  bowels,  and  made  it  fast  to  a  tree,  then  ap- 
plying red  hot  irons  to  his  bod^ ,  made  him  move  round 
it  until  they  were  all  drawn  out;  they  then  cut  off  the 
organs  of  generation.  Life  now  being  nearly  extin- 
guished, and  suffering  near  an  end,  they  thrust  a  hot 
gun  barrel  into  his  heart,  which  closed  this  scene  of 
misery  and  savage  cruelty. 

In  some  instances  they  manifested  their  savage  in- 
genuity by  opening  the  wrists  and  ancles  of  their  victims, 
and  with  a  forked  stick  twisting  out  the  sinews. 

Sometimes  the  unhappy  victim  was  placed  upon  the 
ground  on  his  back,  and  after  driving  forked  sticks  into 
the  ground  over  each  arm  and  leg,  so  as  to  prevent  him 
from  moving,  these  savage  monsters  consumed  him  with 
fire,  beginning  at  the  feet  to  prolong  his  torments. 


' 


(  189  ) 

Some  account  of  a  certain  James  Potts  a  Bookseller, 
of  Lancaster  county,  who  went  out  a  sutler  in  Forbes's 
campaign,  observe  this  army  marched  sometimes  in  two 
divisions,  and  Mr.  Potts  was  along  with  the  rear  part, 
but  thinking  if  along  in  the  front  he  could  get  a  better 
sale  for  his  liquors,  left  the  rear  in  order  to  move  up  to 
the  front,  the  two  divisions  was  a  few  miles  apart;  but 
on  his  way  fell  in  with  a  party  of  Indians,  who  killed 
and  scalped  him;  hung  him  up  by  the  feet  to  a  saplin, 
cut  him  open  and  left  his  intrails  hanging  down  over  his 
head,  and  in  that  position  the  army  found  him. 


In  the  spring  of  the  year  1768,  the  Indians  began  to 
kill  and  scalp  the  frontier  inhabitants,  and  in  a  short 
time  drove  them  all  as  far  as  the  North  mountain ;  how- 
ever when  harvest  came  on  some  of  the  people  of  Tus- 
carora  and  Shearman's  valley,  thought  they  would  ven- 
ture to  their  habitations  and  try  to  preserve  some  of 
their  crops  ;  but  to  their  misfortune  the  Indians  came 
on  th6  day  before  they  expected  to  begin  to  reap.  This 
was  on  Sunday  and  the  people  were  in  their  houses,  and 
the  most  that  was  in  Tuscarora  was  killed.  The  first 
house  they  came  to,  an  Indian  went  to  the  door,  and 
shot  a  boy  in  the  house,  and  with  that  entered  the  door> 
there  was  a  man  in  the  house  of  the  name  of  George 
Dodds,  that  fired  at  and  wounded  him,  but  the  Indian, 
being  naked  and  greasy,  Dodds  could  not  hold  him,  he 
made  to  the  door,  and  got  clear  of  them  :  but  all  that 
was  in  the  house  consisting  of  eight  personi,  were  killed. 
The  same  evening  Dodds  and  others  alarmed  Shearman's 
valley,  upon  which  the  inhabitants  collected  in  two  com- 


!■) 


• 


if 


(  190  ) 

panics  to  go  and  bury  the  dead.  There  was  the  upper 
company  and  Buffalo  company.  The}'  all  started  early 
the  next  morning  and  camo  back  the  same  day.  The 
upper  company  was  there  first,  buried  the  dead,  and  re- 
turned, both  companies  upon  the  same  road,  the  upper 
company  came  along  first,  but  by  the  time  the  Buffaloo 
company  followed,  the  Indians  had  laid  in  ambuscade 
by  the  branch  of  Buflaloe  creek,  and  fired  upon  them, 
and  five  of  the  company  fell,  and  one  was  wounded. 
The  other  six  retreated  and  so  got  off. 

From  thence  these  savages  proceeded  up  the  valley 
about  three  miles,  and  discovered  five  men  coming  along 
the  road,  tiiey  concealed  themselves  in  a  stable,  when 
the  men  came  near  they  fired  on  them  and  killed  John 
Logan  and  Charles  Coil,  and  shot  William  Hamilton 
through  the  body,  Alexander  Logan  attempted  to  ride 
off",  the  Indians  took  a  near  way,  overtook,  and  killed 
him,  this  gave  Bartholomew  Davis  an  opportunity  of 
escaping,  but  William  Hamilton  not  being  able  to  get 
off,  he  got  over  a  fence  and  concealed  himself  in  a  hazel 
thicket,  and  saw  the  Indians  following  the  blood  and 
bending  the  bushes  within  three  steps  of  where  he  was 
lying.  It  was  sometliing  very  remarkable  that  while 
the  Indians  was  on  the  search  of  Hamilton,  his  dog  lay 
by  him  without  ever  moving  or  making  the  least  noise, 
notwithstanding  that  dogs  have  such  an  aversion  to  In- 
dians. After  the  savages  had  given  over  their  search, 
they  made  themselves  merry,  dancing  and  shouting 
round  the  deod  bodies  for  near  two  hours  and  went  ofi'. 
Hamilton  then  came  out  from  his  concealment,  with  an 
intention  to  go  to  his  own  house  which  was  about  a  mile 
off,  and  with  great  difiiculty  got  there,  but  when  he  got 
that  length  he  could  not  get  over  a  fence  that  was  at  the 


(  191  ) 

floor,  until  a  company  of  men  coming  that  way,  seeing 
him  believed  him  to  be  an  Indian,  and  were  about  to 
shoot  him,  but  ui)on  going  up  to  him  they  discovered 
who  he  WJ18,  all  besmeared  with  blood  and  dirt.  They 
bound  up  his  wounds,  and  got  one  under  each  arm,  and 
brought  him  to  a  house  where  they  had  some  provision 
and  some  liquor,  and  gave  him  some  of  both  which  re- 
covered him  a  little;  they  now  heard  the  report  of  sev- 
eral guns,  upon  which  Hamilton  requested  the  company 
to  leave  him  to  die,  and  seek  their  own  safety  by  Hight, 
they  would  not,  but  procured  a  horse  and  brought  him 
to  Carlisle,  where  he  died  a  few  days  after. 

The  guns  which  they  heard  proved  to  be  a  skirmish 
between  the  Indians  and  a  party  under  capt.  Dunning, 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Logan,  capt.  Dunning  and  his  party, 
being  led  to  it  by  the  report  of  the  Indians  guns  shoot- 
ing Logan's  cattle. 


A  short  account  of  the  battle  of  Mousey  hill,  September  17()-5. 

It  was  generally  believed  if  there  could  be  an  exi>edi- 
tion  sent  out  to  destroy  some  of  the  Indian  towns  and 
to  annoy  them  in  their  own  country,  it  would  be  the 
most  effectual  method  to  keep  them  from  murdering  and 
massacreing  the  inhabitants;  accordingly  a  company  of 
volunteers  turned  out  to  the  amount  of  about  one  hun- 
dred men,  and  marched  up  Susquehanna,  as  far  as  Mon- 
sey,  and  at  the  foot  of  a  hill  of  that  name  they  spied 
some  Indians.  They  held  a  council  what  was  best  to  be 
done,  one  of  the  men  who  had  been  a  captive  with  them 
for  nine  years,  advised  them  to  return  on  the  path  they 
came,  for  the  Indians  would  take  round  them  and  come 
upon  their  rear,  and  take  them  upon  disadvantageous 


Pn 


(  1!)2  ) 

ground;  they  had  not  retreated  far  till  they  met  the  Tn- 
dianH,  and  a  smart  ])attle  ensued,  which  lasted  till  dark. 
The  Indians  were  in  two  companies,  and  one  of  their 
captains  called  Snake  w,\h  killed ;  and  when  his  party 
found  their  leader  was  killed  they  moved  off".  When 
nij?ht  came  on  the  white  men  retired  a  small  distance 
and  lay  down  to  take  a  little  rest,  the  Indians  came 
round  and  posted  themselves  in  a  thicket  a  few  perches 
from  the  white  men,  they  were  so  near  that  they  heard 
them  cocking  their  guns  and  directly  they  fired  on  the 
white  men,  who  were  about  to  return  the  fire,  the  captive 
above  mentioned  called  not  to  fire,  for  if  they  should 
empty  their  guns  the  Indians  would  rush  up  with  their 
tomahawks.  The  white  men  and  Indians  lay  that  near 
that  they  could  speak  to  each  other ;  the  Indians  hear- 
ing some  of  our  wounded,  making  some  moaning,  called 
to  them  that  some  of  them  was  very  sick,  our  men  re- 
plied that  they  would  serve  some  of  them  as  they  had 
done  the  Snake.  However,  the  Indians  did  not  choose 
to  ris(jue  another  battle,  but  moved  off,  and  ours  came 
home  and  brought  the  wounded,  how  many  there  was 
killed  we  cannot  tell. 

It  was  generally  believed  that  this  little  campaign  was 
a  great  preservation  to  the  inhabitants,  it  was  supposed 
that  these  two  companies  of  Indians  were  on  their  way 
coming  down  to  murder  and  massacre  the  inhabitants 
when  the  men  met  them. 


In  the  year  1770  the  Indians  began  to  make  inroads 
into  the  settlements  of  Northumberland  county,  and 
coming  to  the  house  of  Andrew  Armstrong,  made  him 
prisoner;  his  wife  escaped  by  concealing  herself  under  a 
bed  until  after  they  were  gone. 


(  193  ) 

About  this  time  two  families  flying  from  the  Indians, 
were  attacked  at  a  place  called  warrior's  run.  The  men, 
Durham  and  M'Knight,  were  behind  driving  their  cattle; 
their  wives  riding  before,  were  fired  upon  by  the  Indians. 
Mrs.  Durham's  child  was  shot  dead  in  her  arms,  at  sight 
of  which  she  fainted  and  fell  from  her  horse,  the  other 
being  unhurt,  rode  on  and  escaped;  the  men  being 
alnrmed,  fled  precipitiitely  and  escaped.  While  Mrs. 
Durham  remained  insensible,  she  was  scalped,  but  re- 
viving, escaped  to  a  place  of  safety,  and  recovered. 

A  party  of  Indians  having  made  two  girls  prisoner  in 
buffaloe  valley,  passed  on  to  penns  valley,  where  they 
discovered  from  the  top  of  a  mountain,  a  company  of 
reapers  in  a  valley,  leaving  the  girls  with  one  Indian, 
they  proceeded  to  attack  them.  After  they  were  goup, 
the  Indian  lay  down  to  rest;  soon  afterwards  it  began 
to  rain,  and  one  of  the  girls,  on  pretence  of  sheltering 
him,  covered  him  with  leaves ;  then  seizing  an  ax,  she 
sunk  it  into  his  head.  The  girls  then  fled  towards  the 
reapers,  but  being  discovered  by  the  Indians,  they  were 
fired  at,  and  one  of  them  killed,  the  other  escaped  and 
gave  them  information  of  the  enemy.  A  company  was 
collected  and  went  in  pursuit  of  them ;  but  they  re- 
treated, carrying  the  dead  Indian  with  them. 

The  inhabitants  of  Northumberland  county,  in  order 
to  defend  themselves  from  the  Indians,  built  Freclan's 
fort,  Bosly's  fort,  Bready's,  Wallace's  and  Boone's  fort. 
Capt.  liready  was  killed  while  bringing  provisions  to  th(; 
garrison.  By  the  assistance  of  those  forts,  the  incursions 
of  the  Indians  were  more  ofl'ectually  opposed. 

A  party  of  Indians  in  one  of  their  incursions  into 
Northumberland,  captured  Peter  P(;nce,  another  man, 
and  a  boy.    After  travelling  through  snow  till  night,  and 


(  194  ) 

being  liiuch  liitigucd,  they  lay  down.  When  the  In- 
dians were  all  asleep.  Pence  got  his  hands  loose,  and 
communicated  his  design  of  escaping  to  the  other  man, 
who  refused  to  assist  him ;  he  then  instructed  the  boy  in 
the  scheme  he  proposed  to  execute,  they  first  made 
themselves  masters  of  all  the  guns ;  then  placing  the  boy 
at  a  small  distance  from  them  with  a  gun  and  Pence 
with  a  tomahawk,  as  soon  as  the  boy  fired,  fell  upon 
them  and  killed  two,  the  rest  started  up  and  fled  preci- 
pitately, without  their  guns.  Information  was  aftenvards 
received,  that  those  who  fled  were  all  starved  to  death 
but  one;  being  destitute  of  the  means  of  procuring  pro- 
visions.   The  two  men  and  the  boy  returned  in  safety. 


A  short  Account  of  Mrs.  Porter^ s  encounto'  with  three  Indians, 

Mr.  Porter,  residing  in  Sinking  valley,  Huntingdon 
county  having  gone  to  mill,  and  left  Mrs.  Porter  alone, 
while  in  this  situation  she  espied  an  Indian  coming  to- 
wards the  liouse.  Mr.  Porter  being  a  militia  captain, 
had  a  sword  and  rifle  in  the  house,  his  wife  with  great 
intrepidity  took  the  sword,  and  having  set  the  door 
about  half  open,  waited  behind  it  until  the  Indian  en- 
tered, when  she  split  his  head  with  the  sword,  another 
entered  and  met  the  same  fate ;  the  third  seeing  the  fate 
of  his  companions,  did  not  attempt  to  enter.  She  then 
took  the  gun  and  went  up  stairs  with  the  expectation  of 
having  an  opportunity  of  shooting  him  from  thence,  as 
there  was  port-holes  for  the  purpose; but  became  in  and 
followed  her  up  stairs,  where  she  shot  him  dead.  She 
then  came  down,  and  fled  with  all  possible  haste,  and 
met  her  husband  coming;  they  immediately  rode  to  a 


■  ( l^^y ) 

place  o^  security.  The  next  morning  a  party  of  men 
went  to  the  place  of  action,  and  found  there  had  been 
other  Indians  there,  who  had  burnt  the  house  and  barn. 


The  Jollowimj  114  of  persons  killed  hy  the  Indians,  luc  have 
been  furnished  oith  by  John  M^Calhmyh,  Eat/.,  whose  Xar- 
rative  of  his  captivity  has  been  given  in  the  first  volume. 

I  shall  here  enclose  a  number  of  names  of  persons 
killed  and  taken  from  different  settlements,  during  the 
years  1755,  G,  7,  and  8,  taken  from  a  memorandum  of 
my  father. 

November  1st,  1755,  the  Great  Cove  was  l>urnt  by  the 
Indians,  John  Martin's  wife,  two  sons  and  two  daughters 
and  many  others  taken  captive. 

February  11th,  1756,  John  Craig,  and  Richard  Cox, 
was  taken  by  them,  John  Cox  made  his  escape  in  August 
following. 

July  20,  1750,  Joseph  Martin  killed,  and  John  and 
James  M'Cullough  taken  captive  by  them  from  Conoco- 
cheague. 

August  27,  (  which  I  presume  must  have  been  in 
1750)  a  very  great  slaughter  at  the  Potomack.  wherein 
thirty  nine  persons  were  killed  or  taken,  at  a  burial,  in- 
cluding seven  that  was  loading  a  waggon  in  a  field. 

August  28,  1750,  Betty  Ramsey,  her  son  and  cropper 
killed,  and  her  daughter  taken  captive. 

August  27,  1750,  the  Indians  took  one  person  from 
the  South  mountain. 

March  29,  1757,  the  Indians  made  a  breach  at  Rocky 
springs,  where  one  woman  was  killed  and  11  taken 
prisoner. 


(196) 


April  2,  1757,  William  M'Kinnie  and  his  son  was 
killed  near  Chambers's  fort. 

April  17,  1757,  Jeremiah  Jack  near  Potomack  was 
taken  captive,  and  two  of  his  pons  killed,  and  one 
man  and  one  woman  drowned  in  Potomack  endeavour- 
ing to  make  their  escape. 

April  23,  1757,  John  Martin  and  William  Blair  was 
killed,  and  Patrick  M'Clelland  wounded  in  the  shoulder, 
who  afterwards  died  of  his  wound,  near  Maxwell's  fort, 
Conococheague. 

May  14,  1757,  Major  Campbell  and  one  Tussey,  was 
killed  or  taken  captive  with  fourteen  others,  near  Poto- 
mack. 

May  12,  1757,  John  Martin  and  Andrew  Paul,  both 
old  men,  taken  from  Conococheague. 

May  13,  1757,  two  men  killed  near  M'Cormick's  fort 
at  Conodoguinet. 

May  IG,  1757,  eleven  persons  killed  at  Paxton,  by  the 
Indians. 

June  6,  two  men  killed  and  five  taken  near  Shippens- 
burg. 

June  9,  James  Holiday  and  fourteen  men  killed  and 
taken;  James  Long's  son  and  anoiher  man,  killed  in  a 
quarry  at  fort  Frederick ;  nineteen  men  killed  in  a  mill 
at  Quetapahely,  and  four  men  killed  in  Shearman's 
valley,  all  in  one  week. 

June  17,  one  man  killed  at  Cuthbertson's  fort,  four 
men  shot  at  the  Indian  while  scalping  the  man. 

June  24,  1757,  Alexander  Miller  killed  and  two  of  his 
daughters  taken  from  Conococheague;  John  Kenedy 
badly  wounded,  and  Gerhart  Pendergras's  daughter 
killed  at  fort  Littleton. 


I 
I 


(  107  ) 

July  2,  one  woman  and  four  children  taken  from 
Trent's  gap;  same  day  oneSpringson  killed  near  Logan's 
mill,  Conococheague. 

July  8,  1757,  two  boys  taken  from  Cross's  fort,  Cono- 
cocheague. 

July  9, 1757,  Trooper  Wilson's  son  killed  at  Antieatum 
creek.  I  presume  this  to  have  been  the  man  that  I 
mentioned  Ben.  Dickson  shot  and  shaked  his  scalp  at 
his  father,  when  he  was  creeping  up  to  shoot  a  deer. 

July  18,  six  men  killed  or  taken  from  a  field  near 
Shippensburgh. 

July  19,  nineteen  killed  and  taken  reaping  in  a  field 
near  Shippensburgh. 

July,  1757,  four  men  killed  near  Baker's  driving 
waggon  to  fort  Frederick. 

July  10,  1757,  ten  soldiers  killed  at  Clapham's  fort. 

July  27,  1757,  one  M'Kisson  wounded,  and  bis  son 
taken  from  the  south  mountain. 

August  15,  1757,  William  Manson  and  his  son  killed 
near  Cross's  fort,  Conococheague. 

August  17,  1757,  William  Waugh's  barn  was  burnt, 
in  the  Tract,  York  county,  by  Indians. 

August  19,  1757,  one  man  killed  near  Harris's  ferry. 

August  19,  1757,  fourteen  people  killed  and  taken 
from  Mr.  Cinky's  congregation. 

September  2,  1757,  one  man  killed  near  Bigger's  gap, 
and  one  Indian  killed. 

September  9,  1757,  one  boy  and  girl  taken  from 
Donegal. 

September  26, 1757,  Robert  Rush  and  John  M'Craken, 
with  five  others  killed  and  taken  captive  near  Chani- 
bersburgh. 

18 


fmtm 


mm 


I* 


i 


W) 

fc 


r 


(   198) 

October  1  &  2,  1757,  a  very  great  slaughter  near 
Opiken  in  Virginia,  where  more  than  sixty  were  killed 
and  taken. 

November  9,  1757,  John  Woods,  his  wife  and  mother- 
in-law  and  John  Archer's  wife  were  killed,  four  children 
taken,  and  nine  men  killed  near  M' Dowel I's  fort. 

April  2,  1758,  two  men  killed  near  Shippensburg. 

April  5,  1758,  one  man  killed  and  ten  taken  near 
Black's  gap,  south  mountain. 

April  13,  1758,  one  man  killed  and  nine  taken  near 
Archibald  Bard's,  south  mountain. 

May  21,  1758,  one  woman  and  five  children  taken 
from  yellow  breeches. 

May  23,  1758,  Joseph  Gallady  killed,  his  wife  and  one 
child  taken  from  Conococheague. 

May  29,  1759,  one  Dunwiddie  and  Crawford  shot  by 
two  Indians  in  Carrol's  tract,  York  county. 

July  20,  a  boy  plowing  at  Sweetara  was  shot  at  by 
two  Indians,  ono  horse  killed  and  the  other  wounded. 


• 


(199  ) 


aear 
lied 

her- 
iren 


near 

near 

iken 

one 

t  by 

t  by 
id. 


In  order  to  give  our  readers  some  idea  of  the  cause  which 
gave  rise  to  the  war  with  the  Indians  in  1774,  ice  have  made 
the  folloiving  extract,  from  the  appendix  to  Jefferson'' s  Notes 
on  the  State  of  Virginia,  Baltimore,  printed  by  W.  Pechin, 
1800,  Page  44. 


The  declaration  of  Mr.  Joiis  Heckewelder,  for  several 
years  a  missionary  from  the  society  of  Moravians,  among 
the  western  Indians. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1774,  at  a  time  when  the 
interior  part  of  the  Indian  country  all  seemed  peace 
and  tranquil,  the  villagers  on  the  Muskingum  were  sud- 
denly alarmed  by  two  Runners  ( Indians)  who  reported 
"that  the  Big  Knife  (Virginians)  had  attacked  the 
l^Iingo  settlement,  on  the  Ohio,  and  butchered  even  the 
women  with  their  children  in  their  arms,  and  that 
Logan's  family  were  among  the  slain."  A  day  or  two 
after  this,  several  Mingoes  made  their  appearance; 
among  whom  were  one  or  two  wounded,  who  had  in 
this  manner  effected  their  escape.  Exasperated  to  a 
high  degree,  after  relating  the  particulars  of  this  trans- 
action, (which  for  humanity's  sake  I  forbear  to  mention) 
after  resting  some  time  on  the  treachery  of  the  Big 
Knives,  of  their  barbarity  to  those  who  are  their  friends, 
they  gave  a  figurative  description  of  the  perpetrators; 
named  Cresap  as  having  been  at  the  head  of  this  mur- 
derous act.  They  made  mention  of  nine  being  killed, 
and  two  wounded ;  and  were  prone  to  take  revenge  on 
any  person  of  a  white  colour;  for  which  reason  the  mis- 
sionaries had  to  shut  themselves  up  during  their  stay. 


mimmm 


'h\ 


(  200  ) 

From  this  time  terror  daily  increased.  The  exasperated 
friends  and  relations  of  these  murdered  women  and 
children,  with  the  nations  to  whom  they  belonged,  passed 
and  repassed  through  the  villages  of  the  quiet  Delaware 
towns,  in  search  of  white  people,  making  use  of  the  most 
abusive  language  to  these  (the  Delawares,)  since  they 
would  not  join  in  taking  revenge.  Traders  had  either 
to  hide  themselves,  or  try  to  get  out  of  the  country  the 
best  way  they  could.  And,  even  at  this  time,  they  yet 
found  such  true  friends  among  the  Indians,  who,  at  the 
risk  of  their  own  lives,  conducted  them,  with  the  best 
part  of  their  property,  to  Pittsburgh;  although,  (shame- 
ful to  relate ! )  these  benefactors  were,  on  their  return 
from  this  mission,  waylaid,  and  fired  upon  by  whites, 
while  crossing  Big  Beaver  in  a  canoe,  and  had  one  man, 
a  Shawanese,  named  Silverheels,  (a  man  of  note  in  his 
nation)  wounded  in  the  body.  This  exasperated  the 
Shawanese  so  much,  that  they,  or  at  least  a  great  part 
of  them,  immediately  took  an  active  part  in  the  cause ; 
and  the  Mingoes,  (nearest  connected  with  the  former,) 
became  unbounded  in  their  rage. 

A  Mr.  Jones,  son  to  a  respectable  family  of  this  neigh- 
bourhood ( Bethlehem,)  who  was  then  on  his  passage 
up  ^luskingum,  with  two  other  men,  was  fortunately 
espied  by  a  friendly  Indian  woman,  at  the  falls  of 
Muskingum,  who  through  motives  of  humanity  alone, 
informed  Jones  of  tlie  nature  of  the  times,  and  that  he 
was  running  right  into  the  enraged;  and  put  him  on  the 
way,  where  he  might  perhaps  escape  the  vengeance  of 
the  strolling  parties.  One  of  Jones'  men,  fatigued  by 
travelling  in  the  woods,  declared  he  would  rather  die 
than  remain  longer  in  this  situation;  and  liitting  acci- 
dentally on  a  path,  he  determined  to  follow  the  same. 


hk 


(  201  ) 

A  few  hundred  yards  decided  his  fate.  He  was  met  by 
a  party  of  about  fifteen  Mingoes,  (and  as  it  happened, 
almost  within  sight  of  White  Eyes  Town,)  murdered, 
and  cut  to  pieces ;  and  his  limbs  and  flesh  stuck  up  on 
the  bushes.  White  Eyes,  on  hearing  the  Scalp  Halloo, 
ran  immediately  out  with  his  men,  to  see  what  the 
matter  was ;  and  finding  the  mangled  body  in  this  con- 
dition, gathered  the  whole  and  buried  it.  But  next  day, 
when  some  of  the  above  party  found  on  their  return  the 
body  interred,  they  instantly  tore  up  the  ground,  and 
endeavored  to  destroy,  or  scatter  about,  the  parts  at  a 
greater  distance.  White  Eyes,  with  the  Delawares, 
watching  their  motions,  gathered  and  interred  the  same 
a  second  time.  The  war  party  finding  this  out,  ran  furi- 
ously into  the  Delaware  Village,  exclaiming  against  the 
conduct  of  these  people,  setting  forth  the  cruelty  of 
Cresap  to  women  and  cliildren,  and  declaring  at  the 
same  time,  that  they  would,  in  consequence  of  this 
cruelty,  serve  every  white  man  they  should  meet  in  the 
same  manner.  Times  grew  worse  and  worse,  war  parties 
went  out  and  took  scalps  and  jirisoners,  and  the  latter, 
in  hopes  it  might  be  of  service  in  saving  their  lives,  ex- 
claimed against  the  barbarous  act  which  gave  rise  to 
these  troubles  and  against  the  perpetrators.  The  name 
of  Greathouse  was  mentioned  as  having  been  accomplice 
to  Cresap.  So  detestable  l)ecame  the  latter  name  among 
the  Indians,  that  I  have  fre<iuently  henrd  them  apply 
it  to  the  worst  of  things;  also  in  quieting  or  stilling 
their  cl  dren,  I  have  heard  them  say,  Hush!  Cresaj) 
will  fetch  you,  whereas  otherwise  they  name  the  Owl. 
The  warriors  having  afterwards  bent  their  courst!  more 
toward  the  Ohio,  and  down  the  same,  i)eace  seemed  with 
us  already  on  the  return;  and  this  became  the  case  soon 


'  ^„J"»»...  *.J.  ■ 


f^^r^mnmn^^ss:;*! 


^m^^^wm 


^^m^ 


wmmim 


"^i 


& 


i 


4.    1 


(  202  ) 

after  the  decided  battle  fought  on  the  Kanhaway. 
Traders,  returning  now  into  the  Indian  country  again, 
related  the  story  of  the  above  mentioned  massacre,  after 
the  same  manner,  and  with  the  same  words,  we  have  heard 
it  related  hitherto.  So  the  report  remained,  and  was 
believed,  by  all  who  resided  in  the  Indian  country.  So 
it  was  represented  numbers  of  times,  in  the  peaceable 
Delaware  Towns,  by  the  Enemy.  So  the  Christian 
Indians  were  continually  told  they  would  one  day  be 
served.  With  this  impression,  a  petty  Chief  hurried  all 
the  way  from  the  Wabash  in  1779  to  take  his  relations 
(who  were  living  with  the  peaceable  Delawares  near 
Coshachking)  out  of  the  reach  of  the  Big  Knives,  in 
whose  friendship  he  never  more  would  place  any  confi- 
dence. And  when  this  man  found  that  his  numerous 
relations,  would  not  l)reak  friendship  with  the  Ameri- 
cans, nor  be  removed,  he  took  two  of  his  relations 
(women)  oft'  by  force,  saying,  "The  whole  crop  should 
not  be  destroyed;  I  will  have  seed  out  of  it  for  a  new 
crop;"  alluding  to,  and  repeatedly  reminding  tliese  of 
the  family  of  Logan,  who,  he  said,  had  been  real  friends 
to  the  whites,  and  yet  were  cruelly  murdered  by  them. 

In  Detroit,  where  I  arrived  the  same  spring,  the  report 
respecting  the  murder  of  the  Indians  on  the  Ohio 
(among  whom  was  Logan's  family)  was  the  same  as 
related  above;  and  on  my  return  to  the  United  States 
in  the  fall  of  1786,  and  from  that  tin"  enever  and 

wherever  in  my  presence,  this  subject  ....3  the  topic  of 
conversation,  I  found  the  report  still  the  same;  viz. 
thiit  a  person  bearing  the  name  jf  Cresap,  was  the 
author,  or  perpetrator  of  this  deed. 

Logan  was  the  second  son  of  Shikellemus,  a  cele- 
brated chief  of  the  Cayuga  nation.      This  chief,  on 


^i 


(  203  ) 

account  of  his  attachment  to  the  English  government, 
was  of  great  service  to  the  country,  having  the  confi- 
dence of  all  the  Six  Nations,  as  well  as  that  of  the  Eng- 
lish, he  was  useful  in  settling  disputes,  ttc,  &c.  He  was 
highly  esteemed  by  Conrad  Weisser,  Esq.,  (an  officer 
for  government  in  the  Indian  department,)  with  whom 
he  acted  conjunctly,  and  was  faithful  unto  his  death. 
His  residence  was  at  Shamokin,  where  he  took  great 
delight  in  acts  of  hospitality  to  such  of  the  white  people 
whose  business  led  them  that  way.  His  name  and  fame 
were  so  high  on  record,  that  count  Zinzendorf,  when  in 
this  country  in  1742,  became  desirous  of  seeing  him,  and 
actually  visited  him  at  his  house  in  Shamokin.  About 
the  year  1772,  Logan  was  introduced  to  me,  by  an 
Indian  friend;  as  son  to  the  late  reputable  chief  Shikel- 
lemus,  and  as  a  friend  to  the  white  people.  In  the 
course  of  conversation,  I  thou^ '  .lim  a  man  of  superior 
talents,  than  what  Indians  ,  .dially  were.  The  subject 
turned  on  vice  and  immorality,  he  confessed  his  too 
great  share  of  this,  especially  his  fondness  for  li(;[uor. 
He  exclaimed  against  the  white  people,  for  imposing 
liquors  upon  the  Indians;  he  otherwise  admired  their 
ingenuity ;  spoke  of  gentlemen,  but  observed  the  Indians 
unfortunately  had  but  few  of  these  as  their  neighbours,  itc. 
He  spoke  of  his  friendship  to  the  white  people,  wished 
always  to  be  a  neighbour  to  them,  intended  to  settle  on 
the  Ohio,  below  Big  Beaver;  was  (to  the  best  of  my 
recollection)  then  encamped  at  the  mouth  of  this  river, 
(  Beaver,)  urged  me  to  pay  him  a  visit,  (kc.  I  was  then 
living  at  the  Moravian  Town  on  this  River,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Cuskuskee.  In  April  1773,  while  on  my 
passage  down  the  Ohio  for  Muskingum,  I  called  at 
Logan's  settlement;  where  I  received  every  civility  I 
could  expect  from  such  of  the  family  as  were  at  home. 


1*1 


I  ' 


I 


(  204  ) 

Indian  reports  concerning  Logan,  after  the  death  of 
his  family,  ran  to  this:  that  he  exerted  himself  during 
the  Shawancse  war,  ( then  so  called  )  to  take  all  the  re" 
venge  he  could,  declaring  he  had  lost  all  confidence  in 
the  white  people.  At  the  time  of  the  negociation,  he  de- 
clared his  reluctance  in  laying  down  the  hatchet  not 
having,  ( in  his  opinion )  yet  taken  ample  satisfaction ; 
yet,  for  the  sake  of  the  nation  he  would  do  it.  His  ex- 
pressions from  time  to  time,  denoted  a  deep  melancholy. 
Life,  said  he,  had  become  a  torment  to  him :  He  knew 
no  more  what  pleasure  was  :  He  thought  it  had  been 
better  if  he  had  never  existed,  tt^c.  &c.  Report  fur- 
ther states,  that  he  became  in  some  measure  delirious, 
declared  he  would  kill  himself,  went  to  Detroit,  drank 
very  freely,  and  did  not  seem  to  care  what  he  did,  and 
what  became  of  himself.  In  this  condition  he  left  Detroit, 
and,  on  his  way  between  that  place  and  the  Miami,  was 
murdered.  In  October  1781,  while  as  prisoner  on  my 
way  to  Detroit,  I  was  shown  the  spot  where  this  shall 
have  happened.  Having  had  an  opportunity  since  last 
June  of  seeing  the  Rev.  David  Zeisberger,  sent  mission- 
ary to  the  Delaware  nation  of  Indians,  who  had  resided 
among  the  same  on  Muskingum,  at  the  time  when  the 
murder  was  committed  on  the  famih'  of  Logan,  I  put 
the  following  questions  to  him.  1.  Who  he  had  under- 
stood it  was  that  had  committed  the  murder  on  Logan's 
family  ?  And  secondly,  whether  lie  had  any  knowledge 
of  a  speecli  sent  to  lord  Dunmore  by  Logan,  in  conse- 
quence of  this  affair,  c^'c.  To  whicli  Mr.  Zeisberger's 
answer  was :  That  he  had,  from  that  time  when  this 
murder  was  committed  to  the  present  day,  firmly  be- 
believed  the  common  report,  which  he  had  never  heard 
contradicted,  viz,  that  one  Cresap  was  the  author  of  the 


(  205  ) 

massacre;  or  that  it  was  committed  by  his  orders:  and 
that  he  had  known  Logan  as  a  boy,  had  frequently  seen 
him  from  that  time,  and  doubted  not  in  the  least,  that 
Logan  had  sent  such  a  speech  to  Lord  Dunmore  on  this 
occasion,  as  he  understood  from  me  had  been  published; 
that  expressions  of  that  kind  from  Indians  were  familiar 
to  him;  that  Logan  in  particular,  was  a  man  of  quick 
comprehension,  good  judgment  and  talents.  Mr.  Zeis- 
berger  had  been  a  missionary  upwards  of  fifty  years; 
his  age  is  about  eighty ;  speaks  both  the  language  of  the 
Onondagoes  and  the  Delawares ;  resides  at  present  on  the 
Muskingum,  with  his  Indian  congregation:  and  is  be- 
loved and  respected  by  all  who  are  acquainted  with 
him. 

JOHN  HECKEWELDER. 


From  this  testimony  the  following  historical  statement  results: 

In  April  or  May  1774,  a  number  of  people  being  en- 
gaged in  looking  out  for  settlements  on  the  Ohio,  infor- 
mation was  spread  among  them,  that  the  Indians  had 
robbed  some  of  the  land-johhers,  as  those  pd venturers 
were  called.  Alarmed  for  their  safety,  they  collected  to- 
gether at  Wheling  creek.  Hearing  there  that  there  were 
two  Indians  and  some  traders  a  little  above  Wheeling, 
Capt.  Michael  ('resap,  one  of  the  party,  proposed  to  way 
lay  and  kill  them.  The  proposition,  though  opposed, 
was  adopted.  A  party  went  up  the  river,  with  Cresap 
at  their  head,  and  killed  the  two  Indians. 

The  same  afternoon  it  was  reported  that  there  was  a 
party  of  Indians  on  the  Ohio,  a  little  below  Wheeling. 
Cresap  and  his  party  inmiediately  proceeded  down  the 
river,  and  encamped  on  the  bank.    The  Indians  passed 


^ 


■   1 

I"! 


1 


I  I 


) 


ii  n 


i! 

If  -I 


(  206  ) 

him  peaceably,  and  encamped  at  the  mouth  of  Grave 
creek,  a  little  below.  Cresap  and  his  party  attacked 
them,  and  killed  several.  The  Indians  returned  the  fire,, 
and  wounded  one  of  Crcsap's  party.  Among  the  slain 
of  the  Indians  were  some  of  Logan's  family.  Colonel 
Zane  indeed  expresses  a  doubt  of  it;  but  it  is  affirmed  by 
Huston  and  Chamliers.  Smith,  one  of  the  murderers, 
said  they  were  known  and  acknowledged  to  be  Logan's 
friends,  and  the  party  themselves  generally  said  so; 
boasted  of  it  in  presence  of  Cresap :  pretended  no  ])rovo- 
cation;  and  expressed  their  expectations  that  Logan 
would  probably  avenge  their  deaths. 

Pursuing  these  examples,  Daniel  Great-house  and  one 
Tomlinson,  who  lived  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river 
from  the  Indians,  and  were  in  habits  of  friendship  with 
them,  collected  at  the  house  of  Polke  on  Cross  creek, 
about  10  miles  from  Baker's  Bottom  a  party  of  32  men. 
Their  oV)ject  was  to  attack  a  hunting  encampment  of  In- 
dians, consisting  of  men,  women  and  children,  at  the 
mouth  of  Yellow  creek,  some  distance  above  Wheeling. 
They  proceeded,  and  when  arrived  near  Baker's  Bottom, 
they  concealed  themselves,  and  Great-house  crossed  the 
river  to  the  Indian  camp.  Being  among  them  as  a  friend 
he  counted  them,  and  found  them  too  strong  for  an  open 
attack  with  his  force.  While  here  he  was  cautioned  by 
one  of  the  women  not  to  stay,  for  that  the  Indian  men 
were  drinking,  and  having  heard  of  Cresap's  murder  of 
their  relations  at  Grave  creek,  were  angry,  and  she  pressed 
him,  in  a  friendly  manner,  to  go  home ;  whereupon,  after 
inviting  them  to  come  over  and  drink,  he  returned  to 
Baker's,  which  was  a  tavern  and  desired  that  when  any 
of  them  should  come  to  his  house  he  would  give  them 
as  much  rum  as  they  would  drink.    When  his  plot  was 


1 


i: 


*ii 


mi^mmmmmmmmmi^mmmm 


(  207  ) 

ripe  and  a  sufficient  number  of  them  were  collected  at 
Baker's,  and  intoxicated,  he  and  his  party  fell  on  them 
and  massacred  the  whole,  except  a  little  girl,  whom  they 
preserved  as  a  prisoner.  Among  these  was  the  very 
woman  who  had  saved  his  life,  by  pressing  him  to  retire 
from  the  drunken  wrath  of  her  friends,  when  he  was  spy- 
ing their  camp  at  Yellow  creek.  Either  she  herself,  or 
some  other  of  the  murdered  women,  was  the  sister  of 
Logan,  very  big  with  child,  and  inhumanly  and  in- 
decently butchered ;  and  there  were  other  of  his  rela- 
tions who  fell  here. 

The  party  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  alarmed  for 
their  friends  at  Baker's,  on  hearinjr  the  report  of  the 
guns,  manned  two  canoes  and  sent  them  over.  They 
were  received,  as  they  approached  the  shore,  by  a  well 
directed  fire  from  Great-house's  part} ,  which  killed  some, 
wounded  others,  and  obliged  the  rest  to  put  back.  Baker 
tells  us  there  were  twelve  killed,  and  six  or  eight  wounded. 

This  commenced  the  war,  of  which  Logan's  war  club 
and  note  left  in  the  house  of  a  murdered  family,  was  the 
notification.  In  the  course  of  it,  during  the  ensuing 
summer,  great  numbers  of  innocent  men,  women  and 
children  fell  victims  to  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife 
of  the  Indians,  till  it  was  arrested  in  the  autumn  follow- 
ing by  the  battle  at  Point-Pleasant  and  the  pacification 
with  lord  Dunmore,  at  which  the  speech  of  Logan  was 
delivered. 

Of  the  genuiness  of  that  speech  nothing  need  be  said, 
it  was  known  to  the  camp  where  it  was  delivered ;  it  was 
given  out  by  lord  Durmiore  and  his  officers ;  it  ran  through 
the  public  papers  of  these  states ;  was  rehearsed  as  an  ex- 
ercise at  schools;  pul)lished  in  the  papers  and  periodical 
works  of  Europe  j  and  all  this,  a  dozen  years  before  it 


(  208  ) 


I 


il 


i:  ,  i 


K! 


i 
'I 


was  copied  into  the  notes  on  Virginia.  In  fine,  general 
Gibson  concludes  the  question  for  ever,  by  declaring  that 
he  received  it  from  Logan's  hand,  delivered  it  to  lord 
Dunmore,  translated  it  for  him,  and  that  the  copy  in  the 
notes  on  Virginia  is  a  faithful  copy. 

The  popular  account  of  these  transactions,  as  stated 
in  the  notes  on  Virginia  appears  on  collecting  exact 
information,  imperfect  and  erroneou«<  in  it^  details.  It 
was  the  belief  of  the  day ;  but  how  far  its  errors  were  to 
the  prejudice  of  Cresap,  the  reader  will  now  judge. 
That  he,  and  those  under  him,  murdered  two  Indians 
above  Wheeling;  that  they  murdered  a  large  number  at 
Grave  Greek,  among  whom  were  a  part  of  the  family 
and  relations  of  Logan,  cannot  be  questioned;  and  as 
little,  that  this  led  to  the  massacre  of  the  rest  of  the 
family  at  Yellow  creek.  Logan  imputed  the  whole  to 
Cresap  in  his  war  note  and  peace  speech ;  the  Indians 
generally  imputed  it  to  Cresap ;  Lord  Dunmore  and  his 
officers  imputed  it  to  Cresap;  the  country,  with  one 
accord,  imputed  it  to  him ;  and  whether  he  were  inno- 
cent, let  the  universal  verdict  now  declare. 

I  propose  that  in  any  future  edition  of  the  notes  on 
Virginia,  the  passage  relating  to  the  subject  shall  stand 
in  the  following  form  : 

"  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1774,  a  robbery  was  com- 
mitted by  some  Indians  on  certain  land  adventurers  on 
the  river  Ohio.  The  whites  in  that  quarter,  according 
to  their  custom,  undertook  to  punish  this  outrage  in  a 
summary  way.  Captain  Michael  Cresap,  and  a  certain 
Daniel  Great-house  leading  on  these  parties,  surprised, 
at  different  times,  travelling  and  hunting  parties  of  the 
Indians,  having  their  women  and  children  with  them, 
and  murdered  many.    Among  these  were  unfortunately 


^ 


\\i 


(  209  ) 


i 


the  family  of  Logan,  a  chief  celebrated  in  peace  and 
war,  and  long  distinguished  as  the  friend  of  the  whites. 
This  unworthy  return  provoked  his  vengeance.  He 
accordingly  signalized  himself  in  the  war  which  ensued. 
In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  a  decisive  battle  was 
fought  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kahnaway,  between 
the  collected  forces  of  the  Shawanese,  ^lingoes  and 
Delawares,  and  a  detachment  of  the  Virginia  militia. 
The  Indians  were  defeated  and  sued  for  peace.  Logan, 
however  disdained  to  be  seen  among  the  suppliants. 
But  lest  the  sincerity  of  a  treaty  should  be  distrusted, 
from  which  so  distinguished  a  chief  absented  himself, 
he  sent,  by  a  messenger,  the  following  speech  to  be 
delivered  to  Lord  Dunmore. 

"  I  appeal  to  any  white  man  to  say,  if  ever  he  entered 
"Logan's  cabbin  hungry,  and  he  gave  him  not  meat;  if 
"ever  he  came  cold  and  naked,  and  he  clothed  him  not. 
"During  the  course  of  the  last  long  and  bloody  war, 
"Logan  remained  idle  in  his  cabbin,  an  advocate  for 
"peace.  Such  was  my  love  for  the  whites,  that  my 
"countrymen  pointed  as  they  passed,  and  said,  'Logan 
"is  the  friend  of  white  men.'  I  had  even  thought  to 
"  have  lived  with  you,  but  for  the  injuries  of  one  man. 
"Col.  Cresap,  the  last  spring,  in  cold  blood,  and  unpro- 
"voked,  murdered  all  the  relations  of  Logan,  not  even 
"  sparing  my  women  and  children.  There  runs  not  a  drop 
"  of  my  blood  in  the  veins  of  any  living  creature.  This 
"  called  on  me  for  revenge.  I  have  sought  it :  I  have  killed 
"many;  I  have  fully  glutted  my  vengeance.  For  my 
"country,  I  rejoice  at  the  beams  of  peace.  But  do  not 
"harbour  a  thought,  that  mine  is  the  joy  of  fear.  Logan 
"  never  felt  fear.  He  will  not  turn  on  his  heel  to  save 
"his  life.  Who  is  there  to  mourn  for  Logan? — Not  one." 


(  210) 


■h 


TJie  declaration  of  John   Sappington,  received  after  the 
publication  of  the  preceding. 

I,  John  Sappington,  declare  myself  to  he  intimatehj  ac- 
quainted  with  all  the  circumstances  respectinff  the  destruc- 
tion of  Lo(fan\i  family,  and  do  give  in  the  following  narra- 
tive, a  true  statement  of  that  affair. 

Logan's  family  (if  it  was  his  family)  was  not  killed 
by  Cresap  nor  with  his  knowledge,  nor  by  his  consent, 
but  by  the  Great-houses  and  their  associates.  They  were 
killed  30  miles  above  Wheeling,  near  the  mouth  of 
Yellow  creek.  Logan's  camp  was  on  one  side  of  the 
river  Ohio,  and  the  house,  where  the  murder  was  com- 
mitted, opposite  to  it  on  the  other  side.  They  had  en- 
camped there  only  four  or  five  days,  and  during  that 
time  had  lived  peaceably  and  neighbourlv  with  the 
whites  on  the  opposite  side,  until  the  very  day  the  affair 
happened.  A  little  before  the  period  alluded  to,  letters 
had  been  received  by  the  inhabitants  from  a  man  of 
great  influence  in  that  country,  and  who  was  then  I 
believe  at  Capteener,  informing  them  that  war  was  at 
hand,  and  desiring  them  to  be  on  their  guard.  In  con- 
sequence of  those  letters  and  other  rumours  of  the  same 
import,  almost  all  the  inhabitants  fled  for  safety  into 
the  settlements.  It  was  at  the  house  of  one  Baker  the 
murder  was  committed.  Baker  was  a  man  who  sold 
rum,  and  the  Indians  had  made  frequent  visits  at  his 
house,  induced  probably  by  their  fondness  for  that 
liquor.  He  had  been  particularly  desired  by  Cresap  to 
remove  and  take  away  his  rum,  and  he  was  actually 
preparing  to  move  at  the  time  of  the  murder.  The  eve- 
ning before  a  squaw  came  over  to  Baker's  house,  and  by 


(  211  ) 


J 


her  crying  seemed  to  be  in  great  distress.  The  cause  of 
uneasiness  being  asked,  she  refused  to  tell ;  but  getting 
Baker's  wife  alone,  she  told  her,  that  the  Indians  were 
going  to  kill  her  and  all  her  family  the  next  day,  that 
she  loved  her,  did  not  wish  her  to  be  killed,  and  there- 
fore told  her  what  was  intended,  that  she  might  save 
herself.  In  consequence  of  this  information,  Baker  got 
a  number  of  men  to  the  amount  of  twenty-one  to  come 
to  his  house,  and  they  were  all  there  before  morning.  A 
council  was  held  and  it  was  determined  that  the  men 
should  lie  concealed  in  a  back  apartment ;  that  if  the 
Indians  did  come  and  behave  themselves  peaceably 
they  should  not  be  molested ;  but  if  not,  the  men  were  to 
shew  themselves  and  act  accordingly.  Pearly  in  the 
morning  seven  Indians,  four  men  and  three  squaws, 
came  over.  Logan's  brother  was  one  of  them.  They 
immediately  got  rum,  and  all,  excei>t  Logan's  brother, 
became  very  much  intoxicated.  At  this  time  all  the 
men  were  concealed,  except  the  man  of  the  house 
Baker,  and  two  others  who  staid  out  with  him.  These 
Indians  came  unarmed.  After  some  time  Logan's 
brother  took  down  a  boat  and  hat  belonging  to  Baker's 
brother-in-law,  who  lived  with  him,  and  ])ut  them  on, 
and  setting  his  arms  a  kimbo  began  to  strut  about,  till 
at  length  coming  up  to  one  of  the  men,  he  attempted  to 
strike  him,  saying  "white  man,  son  of  a  bitch."  The 
white  man,  whom  he  treated  thus,  kept  out  of  his  way 
for  some  time;  but  growing  irritated  he  jumped  to  hie 
gun,  and  shot  the  Indian  as  he  was  making  to  the  door 
with  the  coat  and  hat  on  him.  The  men  wlio  lay  con- 
cealed then  rushed  out,  and  killed  the  whole  of  them, 
excepting  one  child  which  I  believe  is  alive  yet.  But 
before  this  happened,  one  canoe  with  two,  another  with 


I, 

i' 


n 


,  212  ) 

5  Indians,  all  naked,  painted  and  armed  completely  for 
war,  were  discovered  to  start  from  the  shore  on  which 
Logan's  camp  was.  Had  it  not  been  for  this  circum- 
stance, the  white  men  would  not  have  acted  as  they  did  ] 
but  this  confirmed  what  the  squaw  had  told  before. 
The  white  men,  having  killed  as  aforesaid  the  Indians 
in  the  house,  ranged  themselves  along  the  bank  of  the 
river,  to  receive  the  canoes.  The  canoe  with  two  Indians 
came  near,  being  the  foremost.  Our  men  fired  upon 
them  and  killed  them  both.  The  other  canoe  then 
went  back.  After  this  two  other  canoes  started,  the  one 
contained  eleven,  the  other  seven  Indians,  painted  and 
armed  as  the  first.  Tney  attempted  to  land  below  our 
men ;  but  were  fired  upon,  had  one  killed,  and  retreated, 
at  the  same  time  firing  back.  To  the  best  of  my  recol- 
lection there  wore  three  of  the  Great-houses  engaged  in 
this  business.  This  is  a  true  representation  of  the  affair 
from  beginning  to  end.  I  wjis  intimately  acquainted 
with  Cresap,  and  know  he  had  no  hand  in  that  transac- 
tion. He  told  me  himself  afterwards  at  Redstone  old 
fort,  that  the  day  before  Logan's  people  were  killed,  he, 
with  a  small  party  had  an  engagement  with  a  party  of 
Indians  on  Capteener,  about  4-i  miles  lower  down. 
Logan's  people  were  killed  at  the  mouth  of  Yellow 
creek  on  the  24th  of  May,  1774,  and  on  the  23d,  the  day 
before,  Cresap  was  engaged  as  already  stated.  I  know 
likewise  that  he  was  generally  blamed  for  it,  and  l)e- 
lieved  by  all  who  were  not  actjuainted  with  circum- 
stances, to  have  been  the  perpetrator  of  it.  I  know  that 
he  despised  and  hated  tlie  Greathouses  ever  afterwards 
on  account  of  it.  I  was  intimately  accpiainted  with 
general  Gibson,  and  served  under  him  during  the  late 
war,  and  I  have  a  discharge  from  him  now  lying  in  the 


(  213) 


cum- 
'  that 
wards 
with 
>  late 
11  the 


land  office  at  Richmond,  to  which  I  refer  any  per!«on 
for  my  character,  who  might  be  disposed  to  scruple  my 
veracity.  I  was  likewise  at  the  treaty  held  by  lord 
Dunmore  with  the  Indians  at  Chelicothe.  As  for  the 
speech  said  to  have  been  delivered  by  Logan  on  that 
occasion,  it  might  have  been,  or  might  not,  for  anything 
I  know,  as  I  never  heard  of  it  till  long  afterwards.  I 
do  not  believe  that  Logan  had  any  relations  killed 
exce])t  one  brother.  Neither  of  the  squaws  who  Avere 
killed  was  his  wife.  Two  of  them  were  old  women,  and 
the  third,  with  her  child  which  was  saved,  I  have  the 
best  reason  in  the  world  to  believe  was  the  wife  and 
child  of  general  Gibson.  I  know  he  educated  the  child, 
and  took  care  of  it,  as  if  it  had  been  his  own.  Whether 
Logan  had  a  wife  or  not,  I  cant  say;  but  it  is  j)robable 
tliat  as  he  was  a  chief,  he  considered  them  all  as  his 
people.  All  this  I  am  ready  to  be  qualified  to  at  any 
time.  "   JOHN  SAPPINCJTON. 

Attest:  Samuel  M^Kce,  Jini. 


MaddUna  Gnuiti/,  Feb.  lofh,  1800. 

I  do  certify  further  that  the  al)ove  named  John  Saj)- 
pington  told  me,  at  the  same  time  and  })lace  at  which 
he  gave  me  the  above  narrative,  that  he  himself  was  the 
man  who  shot  the  In-other  of  Logan  in  the  house  as 
above  related,  and  that  he  likewise  killed  one  of  the 
Indians  in  one  of  the  canoes,  wliieh  came  over  from  the 
opposite  shore. 

He  likewise  told  \nv  that  Cresap  never  said  an  angry 
word  to  him  about  the  matter,  although  he  was  fre- 
quently in  company  with  Cresap,  and  indeed  had  been, 
and  continued  to  l)e,  in  habits  of  intimacy  with  that 
14 


^-J-~__  — — •   ",!-» 


If. 


(  214  ) 

gentleman,  and  was  always  })efrien(led  by  him  on  every 
occasion.  He  further  told  me,  that  after  they  had  per- 
petrated the  murder,  and  were  flying  in  the  settlements, 
he  met  with  Cresap  (if  I  recollect  right,  at  Redstone  old 
fort,)  and  gave  him  a  scalp,  a  very  large  fine  one  as  he 
expressed  it,  and  adorned  with  silver.  This  scalp  I 
think  he  told  me,  was  the  scalp  of  Logan's  brother; 
though  as  tf)  this  I  am  not  absolutely  certain. 
Certified  by 

SAMUEL  M'KEE,  Jun. 


As  Captain  John  Logan's  speech  sent  to  lord  Dun- 
more  has  been  so  much  celebrated  as  a  sample  of  Indian 
eloquence,  it  may  perhaps  not  be  thought  improper  to 
give  some  account  of  his  person.  The  Editor  of  this 
work  remembers  well,  when  he  was  a  boy ;  that  shortly 
after  what  was  called  the  second  Indian  war,  I  think  in 
the  year  17()5,  then  living  in  Raccoon  Valley,  near  the 
foot  of  the  Tuscarora  mountain;  upon  Saturday  evening 
we  had  a  report  that  the  Indians  had  began  to  murder 
the  white  people,  and  on  Sunday  in  the  forenoon,  as  we 
children,  were  outside  of  the  house,  we  espied  three 
Indians  coming  across  the  meadow,  a  few  rods  froui  us, 
we  ran  into  tlu!  house  and  informed  our  parenb<,  who 
were  considerably  alarmed  at  their  ai)proaeh;  tlie 
Indians  however,  set  their  guns  down  on  the  outside  of 
the  house,  and  came  in,  wiien  they  were  invited  to  take 
seats,  which  tiiey  did.  After  taking  dinner,  they  sat  a 
considera1>le  time,  Logan  could  speak  tolerable  goiKl 
English  ;  the  other  two  spoke  nothing  while  there,  but  In- 
dian, or  something  that  we  could  not  understand.  They 
apjiearcd  to  l)e  making  observations  on  tiie  large  wooden 


i 


(215) 

chimney,  looking  up  at  it,  and  laughing:,  this  we  sup- 
posed to  be  from  a  man  on  the  Juniata,  not  far  distant, 
making  his  escape  up  the  chimney;  when  their  house 
was  attacked  by  the  In<Uans.  One  of  my  sisters,  a  child 
of  three  or  four  years  old,  having  very  white  curly  hair, 
they  took  liold  of  her  hair  between  their  finger  and 
thumb,  stretching  it  up,  and  laughing,  this  we  conjec- 
tured they  were  saying,  would  make  a  nice  scalp,  or 
that  they  had  seen  such,  otherwise  they  beliaved  with 
civility.  After  some  time,  when  we  saw  they  had  no 
hostile  intentions,  I  took  a  bible,  and  read  two  or  three 
chapters  in  the  book  of  Judges,  respecting  Sampson  and 
the  Philistines.  Logan  paid  great  attention  to  what  I 
read,  my  father  upon  observing  this,  took  occasion  to 
mention  to  him,  what  a  great  benefit  it  would  he  to  the 
Indians  to  learn  to  read;  ()!  said  Logan,  a  great  many 
people  (meaning  the  Indians)  on  the  Mohawk  river,  can 
read  the  Buck  that  speaks  of  God.  After  remaining  with 
us  about  two  hours,  they  took  their  departure,  and 
crossed  the  Tuscarora  mountain  to  Captain  Patterson's, 
two  miles  below  Avliere  Mifllintown  now  stands;  in  a 
few  days  after,  we  were  informed  that  it  was  Capt.  John 
Logan,  an  Indian  chief.  He  was  a  remarkable  tall  man, 
considerably  above  six  feet  high,  strong  and  well  pro- 
portioned, of  a  brave,  open,  manly  countenance,  as 
straight  as  an  arrow;  and  to  ai)pearance,  would  not  be 
afraid  to  meet  any  man. 


^^■^^^^ 


(  216  ) 


w 

'  'l 

i 

i 

ill 


The  following  is  taken  from  Jeff'erson''8  Notes  on   Virginia 
being  No.  1  of  his  Appendix. 

The  preceeding  sheets  having  been  submitted  to  my 
friend  Mr.  Charles  Thomson,  Secretary  of  Congress,  he 
has  furnished  me  with  the  following  observations,  which 
have  too  much  merit  not  to  be  communicated. 

(1.)  p  21.  Besides  the  three  channels  of  communication 
mentioned  between  the  western  waters  and  the  Atlantic, 
there  are  two  others,  to  which  the  Pennsylvanians  are 
turning  their  attention ;  one  from  Presqu-isle,  on  Lake 
Erie,  to  Le  Bcruf,  down  the  Alleghaney  to  Kiskiminitas, 
then  up  the  Kiskiminitas,  and  from  thence,  by  a  small 
portage,  to  Juniata,  which  falls  into  the  Susquehanna : 
the  other  from  Lake  Ontario  to  the  East  Branch  of  the 
Delaware,  and  down  that  to  Philadelphia.  Both  these 
are  said  to  be  very  practicable :  and  considering  the  en- 
terprising temper  of  the  Pennsylvanians,  and  particu- 
larly of  the  merchants  of  Philadelphia,  whose  object  is 
concentered  in  promoting  the  commerce  and  trade  of 
one  city,  it  is  not  improbable  but  one  or  both  of  these 
communications  will  be  opened  and  improved. 

(L)  p.  24.  The  reflections  I  was  led  into  on  viewing 
this  passage  of  the  Potowmac  through  the  Blue  ridge 
were,  that  this  country  must  have  suffered  some  violent 
convulsion,  and  that  tlie  face  of  it  must  have  been 
changed  from  what  it  probably  was  some  centuries  ago; 
that  the  broken  and  ragged  faces  of  the  mountain  on 
each  side  of  the  river;  the  tremendous  rocks,  which  are 
left  with  one  end  fixed  in  the  precipice,  and  the  other 
jutting  out  and  seemingly  ready  to  fall  for  want  of  sup- 
port; the  bed  of  the  river  for  several  miles  below  ob- 
structed and  filled  with  the  loose  stones  carried  from 


i 


lllg 
tlge 

)een 

on 
are 
her 

sup- 
ob- 

li'oni 


(  217  ) 

this  mound ;  in  short,  every  thing  on  which  you  cast 
your  eye  evidently  demonstrates  a  disrupture  and  breach 
in  the  mountain,  and  that,  before  this  happened,  wliat  is 
now  a  fruitful  vale,  was  formerly  a  great  lake  or  col- 
lection of  water,  which  possibly  might  have  here  formed 
a  mighty  cascade,  or  had  its  vent  to  the  ocean  by  the 
Susquehanna,  where  the  Blue  ridge  seems  to  terminate. 
Besides  this,  there  are  other  parts  of  this  country  wliich 
bear  evident  traces  of  a  like  convulsion.  From  the  best 
accounts  I  have  been  able  to  obtain,  the  place  where  the 
Delaware  now  flows  through  the  Kittatinny  mountain, 
which  is  a  continuation  of  what  is  called  the  North  ridgo, 
or  mountain,  was  not  its  original  course,  but  that  it 
passed  through  what  is  now  called  '  the  Wind  gap,'  a 
place  several  miles  to  the  westward,  and  above  an  hun- 
dred feet  higher  than  the  present  bed  of  the  river.  The 
Wind-gap  is  al)Out  a  mile  broad,  and  the  stones  in  it 
such  as  seem  to  have  been  washed  for  ages  by  water 
running  over  them.  Should  this  have  been  the  case, 
there  must  have  been  a  large  lake  behind  that  mountain, 
and  by  some  uncommon  swell  in  the  waters,  or  by  some 
convulsion  of  nature  the  river  must  have  opened  its  way 
through  a  different  part  of  the  mountain,  and  meeting 
there  with  less  obstruction,  carried  away  with  it  the  op- 
posing mounds  of  earth,  and  deluged  the  country  below 
with  the  immense  collection  of  waters  to  which  this  new 
passage  gave  vent.  There  are  still  remaining,  and  daily 
discovered,  innumerable  instances  of  such  a  deluge  on 
both  sides  of  the  river,  after  it  passed  the  hills  above  the 
falls  of  Trenton,  and  reached  the  champaign.  On  the 
New-Jersey  side,  which  is  flatter  than  the  Pennsylvania 
side,  all  the  country  below  Croswick  hills  seems  to  have 
been  overflowed  to  the  distance  of  from  ten  to  fifteen 


r  *—^Hi  ^•-  1 


■jw^^i.r  H". 


.■^-JH.5ii 


■PilMIIIMiHilliHHi 


i^l 


?» 


(  218  ) 

miles  back  from  the  river,  and  to  have  acquired  a  new 
soil  by  the  earth  and  clay  brought  down  and  mixed 
with  the  native  sand.  The  spot  on  wliich  Philadelphia 
stands  evidently  appears  to  be  made  ground.  The  dif- 
ferent strata  through  which  they  l)ass  in  digging  to  water, 
the  acorns,  leaves,  and  sometimes  branches,  which  are 
found  above  twenty  feet  below  tlie  surface,  all  seem  to 
demonstrate  tl)is.  I  am  informed  that  at  Yorktown  in 
Virginia,  in  the  bank  of  York  river,  there  are  different 
strata  of  shells  and  earth,  one  above  another,  which 
seem  to  point  out  that  the  country  there  has  undergone 
several  changes ;  that  the  sea  has,  for  a  succession  of 
ages,  occupied  the  place  where  dry  land  now  appears ; 
and  that  the  ground  has  ])een  suddenly  raised  at  various 
periods.  What  a  change  would  it  make  in  the  country 
below,  should  the  mountains  at  Niagara,  by  any  acci- 
dent, be  cleft  asunder,  and  a  passage  suddenly  opened 
to  drain  olf  the  waters  of  Erie  and  the  Upper  lakes ! 
While  ruminating  on  these  subjects,  I  have  often  been 
hurried  away  by  fancy,  and  led  to  imagine,  that  wliat  is 
now  the  bay  of  .'Mexico,  was  once  a  champaign  country : 
and  that  from  the  point  or  cape  of  Florida,  there  was  a 
continued  range  of  mountains  through  Cuba,  Hispaniola, 
Porto  Rico,  Martinique,  Guadaloupe,  Barbadoes,  and 
Trinidad,  till  it  reached  the  coast  of  America,  and  formed 
the  shores  wliich  bounded  the  ocean,  and  guarded  the 
country  behind,  that,  by  some  convulsion  or  shock  of 
nature,  the  sea  had  broken  through  these  mounds,  and 
deluged  that  vast  plain,  till  it  reached  the  foot  of  the 
Andes;  tl-at  being  there  heaped  up  by  the  trade  winds, 
always  bl  uhig  frori  one  quarter,  it  had  found  its  way 
baH;  ;o  ii.  nt*')ues  to  do,  through  the  gulph  between 
FK  .  .'.a  ad  ''uba>  carrying  with  it  the  loom  and  sand  it 


(  219  ) 

may  have  scooped  from  the  country  it  had  occupied, 
part  of  which  it  may  have  deposited  on  the  shores  of 
North-America,  and  with  part  formed  the  banks  of  New- 
foundland.    But  these  are  only  the  visions  of  fancy. 

(  3.)  p.  49.  There  is  a  plant,  or  weed,  called  the  James- 
town weed*,  of  a  very  singular  quality.  The  late  Dr. 
Bond  informed  me,  that  he  had  under  his  care  a  })atient, 
a  young  girl,  who  had  put  the  seeds  of  this  plant  into 
her  eye,  which  dilated  the  pupil  to  such  a  degree,  that 
she  could  see  in  the  dark,  but  in  the  light  was  almost 
blind.  The  effect  that  the  leaves  had  when  eaten  by  a 
ship's  crew  that  arrived  at  James-town,  are  well  known  f. 

(4. )  p.  92.  Mons.  Buffon  has  indeed  given  an  afliict- 
ing  picture  of  human  nature  in  his  description  of  the 
man  of  America.  But  sure  1  am  there  never  was  a  pic- 
ture more  unlike  the  original.  He  grants  indeed  that 
his  stature  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  man  of  Europe. 
He  might  have  admitted,  that  tlie  Iroquois  were  larger, 
and  the  Lenopi,  or  Delawares,  taller  than  people  in  Eu- 
rope generally  are.  But  he  says  their  organs  of  genera- 
tion are  smaller  and  weaker  than  those  of  Europeans. 
Is  this  a  fjict?  I  believe  not;  at  least  it  is  an  observa- 
tion I  never  heard  before.  'They  have  no  beard.'  Had 
he  known  the  pains  and  trouble  it  cost  the  men  to  pluck 
out  by  the  roots  the  hair  that  grows  on  their  faces,  he 
would  have  seen  that  nature  had  not  been  deficient  in 
that  respect.  Every  nation  has  its  customs.  I  have 
seen  an  Indian  beau,  with  a  looking  glass  in  his  hand, 
examining  his  face  for  liours  together,  and  j)lucking  out 
by  the  roots  every  hair  he  could  discover,  with  a  kind  of 


*  Datura  paricarpiis  erectia  ovatis.     Ijinn. 

t  An  instance  of  temporary  inil)ec'ility  produced  l)y  them  is  men- 


tioned.    Bcverl. 


H.  ofVirg.  1.. 


spr 


3SC 


r.     I 


"'•1 

(  220  ) 

tweezer,  made  of  a  piece  of  fine  braes  wire,  that  had  been 
twisted  round  a  stick,  and  which  he  used  with  great 
dexterity — '  They  have  no  ardour  for  their  females.'  It 
is  true,  they  do  not  indulge  those  excesses,  nor  discover 
that  fondness  which  is  customary  in  Europe;  but  this  is 
not  owing  to  a  defect  in  nature  but  to  manners'.  Their 
souls  is  wholly  bent  upon  war.  This  is  what  procures 
them  glory  among  the  men,  and  makes  them  the  ad- 
miration of  the  women.  To  this  they  are  educated  from 
their  earliest  youth.  When  they  pursue  game  with  ar- 
dour, when  they  bear  the  fatigues  of  the  chase,  when 
they  sustain  and  suffer  patiently  hunger  and  cold ;  it  is 
not  so  much  for  the  sake  of  the  game  they  pursue,  as  to 
convince  their  parents  and  the  council  of  the  nation  that 
they  are  fit  to  be  enrolled  in  the  number  of  the  warriors. 
The  songs  of  the  women,  the  dance  of  the  warriors,  the 
sage  council  of  the  chiefs,  the  tales  of  the  old,  the  tri- 
umphal entry  of  the  warriors  returning  with  success 
from  battle,  and  the  respect  paid  to  those  Avho  distin- 
guish themselves  in  war  and  in  subduing  their  enemies: 
in  short,  every  thing  tliey  see  or  hear  tends  to  inspire 
them  with  an  ardent  desire  for  military  fame.  If  a  young 
man  were  to  discover  a  fondness  for  women  before  he 
has  been  at  war,  he  would  become  the  contempt  of  the 
men,  and  the  scorn  and  redicule  of  the  women.  Or  were 
he  to  indulge  himself  with  a  captive  taken  in  war,  and 
much  more  were  he  to  offer  violence  in  order  to  gratify 
his  lust,  he  would  incur  indelible  disgrace.  The  seem- 
ingly frigidity  of  the  men,  therefore,  is  the  effect  of  man- 
ners, and  not  a  defect  of  nature.  Besides  a  celebrated 
warrior  is  ol'tener  courted  by  the  females,  than  he  has 
occasion  to  court:  and  this  is  a  point  of  honor  which  the 
men  aim  at.     Instances  similar  to  that  of  Ruth  and 


(  221  ) 

Boaz*  are  not  uncommon  among  them.  For  though 
the  women  are  moilest  and  diflident,  and  so  bashful  that 
they  seldom  lift  up  their  eyes,  and  scarce  ever  look  a 
man  full  in  the  face,  yet,  being  brought  up  in  great  sub_ 
jection,  custom  and  manners  reconcile  them  to  the  modes 
of  acting,  which,  judged  of  by  Europeans,  would  be 
deemed  inconsistent  with  the  rules  of  female  decorum 
and  propriety.  I  once  saw  a  young  widow,  whose  hus- 
band, a  warrior,  had  died  about  eight  days  before,  hast- 
ening, to  finish  her  grief,  and  who  by  tearing  her  hair, 
beating  her  breast,  and  drinking  spirits,  made  the  tears 
flow  in  great  abundance,  in  order  that  she  might  grieve 
much  in  a  short  space  of  time,  and  be  married  that  even- 
ing to  another  young  warrior.  The  manner  in  which 
this  was  viewed  by  the  men  and  women  of  the  tribe, 
who  stood  round,  silent  and  solemn  spectators  of  the 
scene,  and  the  indifference  with  which  they  answered 
my  question  respecting  it,  convinced  me  that  it  was  no 
unusual  custom.  I  have  known  men  advanced  in  years, 
whose  wives  were  old  and  past  child-bearing,  take  young 
wives,  and  have  children,  though  the  practice  of  poly- 
gamy is  not  common.  Does  this  favor  of  frigidity,  or 
want  of  ardour  for  the  female?  Neither  do  they  seem 
to  be  dificient  in  natural  aflVction.  I  iiave  seen  both 
fathers  and  mothers  in  the  deepest  alHiction,  when 
their  children  have  been  dangerously  ill ;  though  I  l)e- 
lieve  the  affection  is  stronger  m  the  descending  than  the 
ascending  scale,  and  though  custom  forbids  a  father  to 
grieve  innnoderately  for  a  son  slain  in  battle.  'That 
they  are  timorous  and  cowardly,'  is  a  character  with 

*  When  Hon/,  hud  eaten  ami  drank,  and  his  lioart  was  nierry,  lie 
went  to  lie  down  at  the  end  of  the  heap  of  eoni  ;  and  Uuth  eanie 
softly  :  and  uncovered  his  feet,  and  laid  her  down.     Ruth  iii.  7. 


(  222  ) 


■i 


which  there  is  little  reason  to  charge  them,  when  we 
recollect  the  manner  in  which  the  Iroquois  met  Mons. 

,  who  marched  into  their  country ;  in  which 

the  old  men,  who  scorned  to  fly,  or  to  survive  the  cap- 
ture of  their  town,  braved  death,  like  the  old  Romans  in 
the  time  of  the  Gauls,  and  in  which  they  soon  after  re- 
venged themselves  by  sacking  and  destroying  Montreal. 
But  above  all,  the  unshaken  fortitude  with  which  they 
bear  the  most  excruciating  tortures  and  death  when 
taken  prisonGrs,ought  to  exempt  them  from  tliat  character. 
Much  less  are  they  to  be  characterised  as  a  people  of  no 
vivacity,  and  who  are  excited  to  action  or  motion  only 
by  the  calls  of  hunger  and  thirst.  Their  dances  in  which 
they  so  much  delight,  and  which  to  an  European  would 
be  the  most  severe  exercise,  fully  contradict  this,  not  to 
mention  their  fatiguing  marches,  and  the  toil  they  vol- 
untarily and  cheerfully  undergo  in  their  military  expe- 
ditions. It  is  true,  that  when  at  liome,  they  do  not  em- 
ploy themselves  in  labor  or  the  culture  of  the  soil:  but 


this  again 


is  the  effect  of  customs  and  manners,  which 


have  assigned  that  to  the  province  of  the  women.  But 
it  is  said,  they  are  averse  to  society  and  a  social  life. 
Can  any  thing  be  more  inapplicable  than  this  to  a  peo- 
ple who  always  live  in  towns  or  clans?  Or  can  they  be 
said  to  have  no  'republic,'  who  conduct  all  their  af- 
fairs in  national  councils,  who  pride  themselves  in  their 
national  character,  who  consider  an  insult  or  injury  done 
to  an  individual  by  a  stranger  as  done  to  the  whole,  and 
resent  it  accordingly  ?  In  short  this  picture  is  not  ap- 
plicable to  any  nation  of  Indians  I  have  ever  known  or 
heard  of  in  North  America. 

(5)  p.  138.     As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn,  the 
country  from  the  sea  coast  to  the  Alleghany,  and  from 


HBiVI 


■HH 


■HBI 


I 


(  223  ) 

the  most  southern  waters  of  James  river  up  to  Patuxen 
river,  now  in  the  state  of  Maryland,  was  occupied  by 
three  ditferent  nations  of  Indians,  eacli  of  whicli  spoke 
a  different  language,  and  were  under  separate  and  dis- 
tinct governments.  Wliat  tlie  original  or  real  names  of 
these  nations  were,  I  have  not  l)een  able  to  learn  with 
certainty:  but  by  us  they  are  distinguished  by  the  names 
of  Powhatans,  Mannahoacs,  and  Monacans,  now  com- 
monly called  Tuscaroras.  The  Powhatans  who  occupied 
the  country  from  the  sea  shore  up  to  the  falls  of  the 
rivers,  were  a  powerful  nation,  and  seem  to  have  con- 
sisted of  seven  tri])cs,  five  to  the  western  and  two  on  the 
eastern  shore.  Each  of  these  tribes  was  subdivided  into 
towns,  families,  or  clans,  who  lived  together.  All  the 
nations  of  Indians  in  North-America  lived  in  the  hunter 
state  and  depended  for  subsistence  on  hunting,  fishing 
and  the  spontaneous  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  a  kind  of 
grain  which  was  planted  and  gathered  by  the  women, 
and  is  now  known  by  the  name  of  Indian  corn.  Long 
potatoes,  pumpkins  of  various  kinds,  and  squashes,  were 
also  found  in  use  among  them.  They  had  no  fiocks, 
herds,  or  tamed  animals  of  any  kind.  Their  govern- 
ment is  a  kind  of  patriarchal  confederacy.  Every  town 
or  family  has  a  chief,  who  is  distinguished  ])y  a  particu- 
lar title,  and  whom  we  commonly  call  'Sachem.'  The 
several  towns  or  families  that  com])Ose  a  tribe,  have  a 
chief  who  presides  over  it,  and  the  several  tribes  com- 
posing a  nation  have  a  chief  who  presides  over  the  whole 
nation.  These  chiefs  are  generally  men  advanced  in 
years,  and  distinguished  by  their  prudence  and  abilities 
in  council.  The  matters  which  merely  regard  a  town  or 
family  are  settled  by  the  chief  and  principal  men  of  the 
town ;  those  which  regard  a  tribe,  such  as  the  a])point- 


/vi    : 


(  224  ) 


I 


i 

1 

i 

4 

Ic 

■ 

i 

ment  of  hejul  wnrriors,  or  captains,  and  settling  differ- 
ences between  different  towns  and  families,  are  regulated 
at  a  meeting  or  council  of  the  chiefs  from  the  several 
towns;  and  those  wliich  regard  the  whole  nation,  such 
as  tlie  making  war,  concluding  peace,  or  forming  alli- 
ances with  the  neighboring  nations,  are  deliberated  on 
and  determined  in  a  national  council  composed  of  the 
chiefs  of  the  tribe,  attended  by  the  head  warriors  and  a 
number  of  the  chiefs  from  the  towns,  wlio  are  his  coun- 
sellors.    In  ever}'  town  there  is  a  council  liouse,  where 
the  chief  and  old  men  of  the  town  assemble,  when  oc- 
casion requires,  and  consult  what  is  proj)er  to  bo  done. 
Every  tribe  has  a  fixed  place  for  the  chiefs  of  the  towns 
to  meet  and  consult  on  the  business  of  the  tribe:  and  in 
every  nation  there  is  what  they  call  the  central  council 
house,  or  central  council  fire,  where  the  chiefs  of  the 
several  tribes,  with  the  principal  warriors,  convene  to 
consult  and  determine  on  their  national  affairs.     When 
any  matter  is  proposed  in  the  national  council,  it  is  com- 
mon for  the  chiefs  of  the  several  tribes  to  consult  thereon 
apart  with  their  counsellors,  and  when  they  have  agreed, 
to  deliver  the  opinion  of  the  tribe  at  the  national  coun- 
cil: and,  as  their  government  Fcems  to  rest  wholly  on 
their  persuasion,  they  endeavour,  by  mutual  concessions, 
to  obtain  unanimity.     Such  is  the  government  that  still 
subsists  among  the  Indian  nations  bordering  upon  the 
United  States.     Some  historians  seem  to  think,  that  the 
dignity  of  office  of  Sachem  was  hereditary.     But  that 
opinion  does  not  appear  to  be  well  founded.     The  p.achem 
or  chief  of  the  tribe  seems  to  be  by  election.     And  some- 
times persons  who  are  strangers,  and  rxlopted  into  the 
tribe,  are  promoted  to  this  dignity,  on  account  of  their 
abilities.     Thus  on  the  arrival  of  captain  Smith,  the  first 


(  22r,  ) 


founder  of  the  colony  of  Virginia,  Opechancanough,  who 
was  Sachem  or  chief  of  the  Chickahominies,  one  of  the 
tribes  of  the  Powhatans,  is  paid  to  have  been  of  another 
tribe,  and  even  of  another  nation,  so  that  no  certain  ac- 
count could  be  obtained  of  his  origin  or  descent.  The 
chiefs  of  the  nation  seem  to  have  been  by  a  rotation 
among  tlie  tribes.  Thus  when  captain  Smith,  in  the 
year  160U,  questioned  Powhatan  (who  was  the  chief  of 
the  nation,  and  whose  i)roper  name  is  said  to  have  been 
Wahunsonacock)  respecting  the  succession,  the  old  cliief 
informed  him,  'that  he  was  very  old  and  had  seen  the 
'  death  of  all  his  people  thrice-'- ;  that  not  one  of  these 
'generations  were  then  living  except  himself;  that  he 
'must  soon  die  and  the  succession  descend  in  order  to 
'his  brothers  Opichapan,  Opechancanough,  and  Cata- 
'  taugh,  and  then  to  his  two  sisters,  and  their  two  daugh- 
ters.' But  these  were  appellations  designating  the  tribes 
in  the  confederacy.  For  the  persons  named  are  not  his 
real  brothers,  but  the  chiefs  of  different  tribes.  Accord- 
ingly in  1618,  when  Powhatan  died,  he  was  succeeded 
by  Opichapan,  and  after  his  decease  Opechancanough 
became  chief  of  the  nation.  I  need  only  mention  another 
instance  to  shew  that  the  chiefs  of  the  tribes  claimed 


he 
at 
m 
tie- 


*This  is  one  generation  more  than  the  poet  ascril)es  to  tlie  life  ot 
Nestor, 

To  il'cde  wen  gencai  un'ropon  anihropou 
Epidliiatk  oi  oi prosf/u'it  aintt  tniplien  C(V  C'/in'onio 
Ell  Ihilo  ef/athee,  mefa  de  traitaloisin  aiwsticii, 

1  IIoM.  II.  L'")(». 

Two  generations  now  had  passed  away, 

Wise  by  his  rules  and  hai)])y  liy  liis  sway  ; 

Two  ages  o'er  his  native  realm  he  rei^ni'd, 

And  now  th'  example  ot"  the  third  remained. 

Pori;. 


I 


^1 


(  226  ) 

their  kindred  with  the  head  of  the  nation.  In  1622, 
when  Raleigh  Crashaw  was  with  Japazaw,  the  Sachem 
or  chief  of  the  Patowmacs,  Opechancanough,  who  had 
great  power  and  influence  being  the  second  man  in  the 
nation,  and  next  in  succession  to  Opichapan,  and  was  a 
bitter  but  secret  enemy  to  the  English,  and  wanted  to  en- 
gage his  nation  in  a  war  with  them,  sent  two  baskets  of 
beads  to  the  Potowmac  chief,  and  desired  him  to  kill  the 
Englishman  that  was  with  him.  Japazaw  replied,  that 
the  English  were  his  friends,  and  Opichapan  his  brother, 
and  that  therefore  there  should  be  no  blood  shed  be- 
tween them  by  his  means.  It  is  also  to  be  observed, 
that  when  the  English  first  came  over,  in  all  their  con- 
ferences with  any  of  the  chiefs,  they  constantly  heard 
him  make  mention  of  his  brother,  with  whom  he  must 
consult,  or  to  whom  he  referred  them,  meaning  thereby 
either  the  chief  of  the  nation,  or  the  tribes  in  confeder- 
acy. The  Manahoacks  are  said  to  have  been  a  con- 
federacy of  four  tribes,  and  in  alliance  with  the  Mona- 
cans,  in  the  war  which  they  were  carrying  on  against 
the  Powhatans. 

To  the  northward  of  these  there  was  another  power- 
ful nation,  whicii  occupied  the  country  from  the  head  of 
the  Chesapeak  bay  up  to  the  Kittatinney  mountain,  and 
as  far  eastward  as  Connecticut  river,  comprehending 
that  part  of  New  York  which  lies  between  the  highlands 
and  the  ocean,  all  the  state  of  New-Jersey,  that  part  of 
Pennsylvania  which  is  watered,  below  the  range  of  the 
Kittatinney  mountains,  by  the  rivers  or  streams  falling 
into  the  Delaware,  and  the  county  of  Newcastle  in  the 
state  of  Delaware,  as  far  as  Duck  creek.  It  is  to  be  ob" 
served,  that  the  nations  of  Indians  distinguished  their 
countries  one  from  another  by  natunil  boundaries,  such 


(  227  ) 


aa  ranges  of  mountains  or  streams  of  water.  But  as  the 
heads  of  rivers  frequently  interlock,  or  approach  near  to 
each  other,  as  those  who  live  upon  a  stream  claim  the 
country  watered  by  it,  they  often  encroach  on  each  other, 
and  this  is  a  constant  source  of  war  between  the  different 
nations.  The  nation  occupying  the  tract  of  country  last 
describid,  called  themselves  Lenopi.  Tlie  French  writers 
call  them  Loups;  and  among  the  English  they  are  now 
commonly  called  Delawaree.  This  nation  or  confeder- 
acy consisted  of  five  tribes,  who  all  spoke  one  language. 
1.  The  Chihobocki,  who  dwelt  oa  the  west  side  of  the 
river  now  called  Delaware,  a  name  which  it  took  from 
Lord  De  La  War,  who  put  into  it  on  his  passage  from 

Virginia  in  the  year ,  but  which  by  the  Indians  was 

called  Chihobocki.  2.  The  Wanami,  who  inbaV)ited  the 
country  called  New  Jersey,  from  the  Rariton  to  the  sea. 
3.  The  Munsey,  who  dwelt  on  the  upper  streams  of  the 
Delaware,  from  the  Kittatinney  mountains  down  to  the 
Lehigh  or  western  branch  of  the  Delaware.  4.  The  Wab- 
inga  who  are  sometimes  called  River  Indians,  some- 
times Mohickanders,  and  who  had  their  dwelling  be- 
tween the  west  branch  of  Delawnre  &  Hudson's  river, 
from  the  Kittatinney  ridge  down  to  the  Rariton;  and  5. 
The  Midiiccon,  or  Mabattan,  who  occupied  Staten  isl- 
and, York  island,  (which  Irom  its  being  the  priiicii)al 
seat  of  their  residence  was  I'onnnlly  called  Mahatton) 
Long  island  and  that  })art  of  New  York  and  Connecticut 
which  lies  between  Hudson  and  Connecticut  rivers,  from 
the  highland,  which  is  a  continuation  of  tlic  Kittatin- 
ney ridge  down  to  the  Hound.  This  nation  had  a  close 
alliance  with  the  ►Sbawanese,  who  lived  on  the  Sus(|ue- 
hanna  and  to  the  westward  of  that  river,  as  far  as  the 
Alleghaney  mountains,  and  carried  on  a  long  war  with 


HH 


0 


ti 


I 


(  228  ) 

another  powerful  nation  or  confederacy  of  Indians, 
which  lived  to  the  north  of  them  between  the  Kittatin- 
ney  mountains,  or  highhinds,  and  the  lake  Ontario,  and 
who  call  themselves  Mingoes,  and  are  called  by  the 
French  writers,  Iroquois,  l)y  the  English  the  Five  Nations, 
and  by  the  Indians  to  the  soutliward,  with  whom  they 
were  at  war,  Massawomacs.  This  war  was  carrying  on, 
in  its  greatest  fury,  when  captain  Smith  first  arrived  in 
Virginia.  The  Mingo  warriors  had  i)enetrated  down  the 
Susijuehanna  to  the  mouth  of  it.  In  one  of  his  excur- 
sions up  the  bay,  at  the  mouth  of  Susquehanna,  in  1G08, 
captain  Smith  met  with  six  or  seven  of  their  canoes  full 
of  warriors,  who  were  coming  to  attack  their  enemies  in 
the  rear.  In  an  excursion  which  he  had  made  a  few 
weeks  l)efoie,  up  the  Rappahanock,  and  in  which  he  had 
a  skirmish  with  a  party  of  the  Manahoacs,  and  taken  a 
brother  of  one  of  their  chiefs  prisoner,  he  first  heard  of 
this  nation.  For  when  he  asked  the  prisoner,  why  his 
nation  attacked  the  English?  the  prisoner  said,  because 
his  nation  had  heard  that  the  English  came  from  under 
the  world  to  take  their  world  from  them.  Being  asked 
how  many  worlds  he  knew?  he  said,  he  knew  but  one, 
which  was  under  the  sky  that  covered  him,  and  which 
consisted  of  the  Powhatans,  Manakins,  and  the  Massa- 
womacks.  Being  (jucstioned  concerning  the  latter,  he 
said,  tliey  dwelt  on  a.  great  water  to  the  North,  that  they 
had  many  l)oats,  and  so  man}'  men  that  tliey  waged  war 
with  all  the  rest  of  the  world. — The  Mingo  confederacy 
then  consisted  of  live  tribes;  three  who  ar(>  the  elder, 
to  wit,  the  Senecas,  who  live  to  the  West,  the  Mohawks 
to  the  East,  and  the  Onondagas  between  them  ;  and  two 
who  were  called  tlie  younger  tribes,  namely,  the  Cayugas 
and  Oncidas.     All  these  tribes  si)eak  one  language,  and 


(  229  ) 


ider 
sked 
one, 
lich 
assa- 
he 
tliey 

war 
■racy 
'Ider, 
awks 

two 
•vioas 

and 


were  then  united  in  a  close  confederacy,  and  occupied 
the  tract  of  country  from  the  east  end  of  lake  Erie  to 
lake  Cliamplain,  and  from  the  Kittatinnoy  and  High, 
lands,  the  lake  Ontario  and  tlie  river  Cadaraijui,  or  St. 
Lawrence.  They  had,  some  time  l>efore  that,  carried  on 
a  war  with  a  nation,  who  lived  heyond  the  lakes,  and 
were  called  Adirondacs.  In  this  war  they  were  worsted : 
but  having  made  a  peace  with  them,  through  the  inter- 
cession of  the  French,  who  were  then  settling  Canada, 
they  turned  their  arms  against  the  Lenopi;  and  as  this 
war  was  long  and  doubtful,  they,  in  the  course  of  it,  not 
only  exerted  their  whole  force,  hut  juit  in  practice  every 
measure  which  prudence  or  policy  could  devise  to  bring 
it  to  a  successful  issue.  For  this  purpose  they  bent 
their  course  down  the  Suscjuehanna,  warring  with  the 
Indians  in  their  way,  and  having  penetrated  as  far  as 
the  mouth  of  it,  they,  by  the  terror  of  their  arms,  en- 
gaged a  nation,  now  known  by  the  name  of  Nanticocks, 
Conoys,  and  Tuteloes,  and  who  lived  between  Chesa- 
peak  and  Delaware  bays,  and  liordering  on  the  tribe  of 
Chihohocki,  to  enter  into  Jin  alliance  with  them.  Tliey 
also  formed  an  alHance  with  the  Monakans,  and  stimu- 
lated them  to  war  witli  tlie  Lenopi  and  their  confederates. 
At  the  same  time  the  Mohawks  carried  on  a  furious 
war  down  the  Hudson  against  the  Moliieeons  and  Iviver 
Indians,  and  com})elled  them  to  purchase  a  temporary 
and  precarious  peace,  l)y  acknowledging  them  to  be  their 
su])eriors  and  ])aying  an  annual  tribute.  The  L«'nopi 
being  surounded  witii  en»'mies  and  hard  pressed,  and 
having  lost  many  of  their  warriors,  were  at  last  com- 
pelled to  sue  for  })eace,  which  was  granted  them  on  con- 
dition that  they  should  i)ut  themselves  under  the  ))ro- 
tection  of  the  Mingoes,  confine  themselves  to  raising 
15 


— ^ 


(  230  ) 

corn,  hunting  for  the  subsistence  of  their  families,  and 
no  longer  have  the  power  of  making  war.  This  is  wiiat 
the  Indians  call  making  them  women.  And  in  this 
condition  the  Lenopis  were  when  William  Penn  first  ar- 
rived and  began  the  settlement  of  Pennsylvania  in  1682. 

(6.)  p.  148.  From  the  figurative  language  of  the  In- 
dians, as  well  as  from  the  practice  of  those  we  are  still 
acquainted  with,  it  is  evident  that  it  was,  and  still  con- 
tinues to  be,  a  common  custom  among  the  Indians  to 
gather  up  the  bones  of  the  dead,  and  deposit  them  in  a 
particular  place.  Thus,  when  they  make  peace  with 
any  nation,  with  whom  they  have  been  al  war,  after 
burying  the  hatchet,  they  take  up  the  belt  of  wampum, 
and  say, '  We  now  gather  up  all  the  bones  of  those  who 
*  have  been  slain  and  bury  them,  &c.'  See  all  the  treaties 
of  peace.  Besides,  it  is  customary  when  any  of  them 
die  at  a  distance  from  home,  to  bury  them,  and  after- 
wards to  come  and  take  up  the  bones  and  carry  them 
home.  At  a  treaty  Avhich  was  held  at  Lancaster  with 
the  six  nations,  one  of  them  died,  and  was  buried  in  the 
woods  a  little  distance  from  the  town.  Some  time  after 
a  party  came  and  took  up  the  body,  separated  the  flesh 
from  the  bones  by  boiling  and  scraping  them  clean,  and 
carried  them  to  be  deposited  in  the  sepulchres  of  their 
ancestors.  The  operation  was  so  offensive  and  disagree- 
ble,  that  nobody  could  come  near  them  while  tliey  were 
performing  it. 

(7.)  p.  151.  The  Oswegatchies,  Connosedagos  and 
Cohunnegagoes,  or,  as  they  are  conmionly  called  Cagh- 
newagos,  are  of  the  Mingo  or  Six-nation,  who  by  the  in- 
fluence of  the  French  missionaries,  have  been  separated 
from  their  nation,  and  induced  to  settle  there. 


(  231  ) 

I  do  not  know  of  what  nation  the  Augquagahs  are , 
but  suspect  they  are  a  famil}'  of  the  Senecas. 

The  Nanticocks  and  Conoies  were  formerly  of  a  nation 
that  lived  at  the  head  of  Chesapeak  bay,  and  who  of  late 
years,  have  been  adopted  into  the  Mingo  or  Iroquois 
confederacy,  and  make  a  seventh  nation.  The  Mona- 
cans  or  Tuscaroras,  who  were  taken  into  the  confederacy 
in  1712,  making  the  sixth. 

The  Saponies  are  families  of  the  Wanamies,  who  re- 
moved from  New  Jersey,  and,  with  the  Mohiccons,  Mun- 
sies,  and  Delawares,  belong  to  the  Lenopi  nation.  The 
Mingoes  are  a  war  colony  from  the  six  nations ;  so  are 
the  Cohunnewagos. 

Of  the  rest  of  the  northern  tribes  I  never  have  been 
able  to  learn  any  thing  certain.  But  all  accounts  seem 
to  agree  in  this,  that  there  is  a  very  powerful  nation,  dis- 
tinguished by  a  variety  of  names  taken  from  the  several 
towns  or  families,  but  commonly  called  Tawas  or  Outa- 
was,  who  speak  one  language,  and  live  round  and  on  the 
waters  that  fall  into  the  western  lakes,  and  extend  from 
the  waters  of  the  Ohio  quite  to  the  waters  falling  into 
Hudson's  bay. 


From.  Jefferson^s  Notes. 

Page  100,  he  says,  I  know  of  no  such  thing  existing 
as  an  Indian  monument:  for  I  would  not  honour  with 
that  name  arrow  i)oints,  stone  hatcliets,  s+cne  pipes,  and 
half-shapen  images.  Of  labour  on  the  large  scale,  I 
think  there  is  no  remain  as  respectable  as  would  be  a 
common  ditch  for  the  drahiing  of  lands :  unless  indeed 
it  would  be  the  Barrows,  of  which  many  are  to  be  found 
all  over  this  country.     These  are  of  different  sizes,  some 


I 


rrr 


/J 


? 


(  232  ) 

of  them  .ire  constructed  of  earth,  and  some  of  loose 
stones.  That  they  were  repositories  of  the  dead,  has 
been  o])vious  to  all:  but  on  what  particular  occasion 
constructed,  was  a  matter  of  doubt.  Some  of  them  have 
thought  they  covered  the  bones  of  those  who  have  fallen 
in  battles  fought  on  tbo  spot  of  interment.  Some 
ascribed  them  to  the  cub^L  n,  said  to  prevail  among  the 
Indians,  of  collecting  at  certain  periods  the  bones  of  all 
their  dead,  wheresoever  deposited  at  the  lime  of  death. 
Others  again  supposed  them  the  general  sepulchre  for 
towns,  conjectured  to  have  been  on  or  near  these 
grounds;  and  this  opini<  n  wn.b  suppcrtrd  by  the  quality 
of  the  lands  in  which  thoy  ■  >j  'e  found,  (those  con- 
structed of  earth  be^ng  generall}'  in  ♦!'<"  softest  and  most 
fertile  meadow  grouri'^s  on  /vei  side  ,  .  ntl  by  a  tradi- 
tion, said  to  be  handed  down  from  tlio  '.  .rigiaal  In- 
dians, that  when  they  settled  in  a  town,  the  first  person 
who  died  was  placed  erect,  and  earth  put  about  him,  so 
as  to  cover  and  support  him;  that  when  another  died,  a 
narrow  passage  was  dug  to  the  first,  the  second  reclined 
against  him,  and  the  cover  of  earth  rejilaced,  and  so  on. 
There  being  one  of  these  in  my  neighbourhood,  I  wished 
to  satisfy  myself  whether  any,  and  which  of  these  opinions 
were  just.  For  this  purpose  I  determined  to  open  and 
examine  it  thoroughly.  It  was  situated  on  the  low 
grounds  of  the  Rivanna,  about  two  miles  above  its  prin- 
cipal fork,  and  oi)posite  to  some  hills,  on  which  had 
been  an  Indian  town.  It  was  of  a  spheroidical  form,  of 
about  forty  feet  diameter  at  the  base,  and  had  been  of 
about  twelve  feet  altitucie,  though  now  reduced  by  the 
l)l()Ugh  to  seven  and  a  half,  having  been  under  cultiva- 
tion about  a  dozen  years.  Before  this  it  wjts  covered 
with  trees  of  twelve  inches  diameter,  and  round  the  base 


(  233  ) 


was  an  excavation  of  five  feet  depth  and  width,  from 
whence  the  earth  had  been  taken  of  which  the  hillock 
was  formed.  I  first  dug  superficially  in  several  parts  of 
it,  and  came  to  collections  of  human  bones  at  different 
depths,  from  six  inches  to  three  feet  below  the  surface. 
These  were  lying  in  the  utmost  confusion,  some  virtical, 
some  oblique,  some  horizontal,  and  directed  to  every 
point  of  the  compass,  entangled  and  held  together  in 
clusters  by  the  earth.  Bones  of  the  most  distant  parts 
were  found  together,  as,  for  instance,  the  smjill  bones  of 
the  foot  in  the  hollow  of  a  scull,  many  sculls  would 
sometimes  be  in  contact,  lying  on  the  face,  on  the  side, 
on  the  back,  top  or  bottom,  so  as,  on  the  whole,  to  give 
the  idea  of  bones  emptied  promiscuously  from  a  bag  or 
basket,  and  covered  over  with  earth,  without  any  atten- 
tion to  their  order.  The  bones  of  which  the  greatest 
number  remained,  were  sculls,  jaw  bones,  teeth,  the 
bones  of  the  arms,  thighs,  legs,  feet  and  hands.  A  few 
ribs  remained,  some  vertebrae  of  the  neck  and  spine, 
without  their  processes,  and  one  instance  only  of  the* 
bone  which  serves  as  a  base  to  the  vertebral  column. 
The  sculls  were  so  tender,  that  they  generally  fell  to 
pieces  on  being  touched.  The  other  bones  were  stronger. 
There  were  some  teeth  which  were  judged  to  be  smaller 
than  those  of  an  adult;  a  scull  which  on  a  slight  view, 
appeared  to  be  that  of  an  infant,  l)ut  it  fell  to  pieces  on 
being  taken  out,  so  as  to  prevent  satisfactory  examina- 
tion; a  rib,  and  a  fragment  of  an  under  jaw  of  a  person 
about  half  grown;  another  rib  of  an  infant;  and  part  of 
the  jaw  of  a  child,  which  had  not  yet  cut  its  teeth.  This 
last  furnishing  most  decisive  proof  of  the  burial  of  chil- 


*  The  OS  sncrum. 


'f '^ 


V 


I 


i 


i^ 


(  234  ) 

dren  here,  I  was  particular  in  my  attention  to  it.  It 
was  part  of  the  right  half  of  the  under  jaw.  The  pro- 
cesses, by  whith  it  was  articulated  to  the  temporal 
bones,  were  entire,  and  the  bone  itself  firm  to  where  it 
had  been  broken  off,  which,  as  nearly  as  I  could  judge, 
was  about  the  place  of  the  eye-tooth.  Its  upper  edge, 
wherein  would  have  been  the  sockets  of  the  teeth,  was 
perfectly  smootli.  Measurin^j;  it  with  that  of  an  adult,  by 
placing  their  hinder  processes  together,  its  broken  and 
extended  to  the  penultimate  grinder  of  the  adult.  This 
bone  was  white,  all  the  others  of  a  sand  colour.  The 
bones  of  infants  being  soft,  they  probably  decay  sooner, 
which  might  be  the  cause  so  few  were  found  here.  I 
proceeded  then  to  make  a  perpendicular  cut  through 
the  body  of  the  barrow,  that  I  might  examine  its 
internal  structure.  This  passed  about  three  feet  from 
its  centre,  was  opened  to  the  former  surface  of  the  earth, 
and  was  wide  enough  for  a  man  to  walk  through  and 
examine  its  sides.  At  the  bottom,  that  is,  on  the  level 
of  the  circumjacent  plain,  I  found  bones;  above  these  a 
few  stones,  brought  from  a  cliff  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off; 
then  a  large  interval  of  earth,  then  a  stratum  of  bones 
and  so  on.  At  one  end  of  the  section  were  four  strata 
of  bones  plainly  distinguishable;  at  the  other  three; 
the  strata  in  one  part  not  ranging  with  those  in  another. 
The  bones  nearest  the  surface  were  least  decayed.  No 
holes  were  discovered  in  any  of  them,  as  if  made  with 
bullets,  arrows,  or  other  weapons.  I  conjectured  that  in 
this  barrow  might  have  been  a  thousand  skeletons. 
Every  one  will  readily  seize  the  circumstances  above 
related,  which  militate  against  the  opinion,  that  it 
covered  the  bones  only  of  persons  fallen  in  battle;  and 
against  the  tradition  also,  which  would  make  it  the 


(  235  ) 


common  sepulchre  of  a  town,  in  which  the  bodies  were 
placed  upright,  and  touching  each  other.  Appearances 
certainly  indicate  that  it  has  derived  both  origin  and 
growth  from  the  accustomary  collection  of  bones,  and 
deposition  of  them  together:  that  the  first  collection 
had  been  deposited  on  the  common  surface  of  the  earth? 
a  few  stones  put  over  it,  and  then  a  covering  of  earth, 
that  the  second  had  been  laid  on  this,  had  covered  more 
or  less  of  it  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  bones,  and 
was  then  also  covered  with  earth  ;  and  so  on.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  particular  circumstances  which  gave  it 
this  aspect.  1.  The  number  of  bones.  2.  Their  con- 
fused position.  3.  Their  being  in  different  strata.  4. 
The  strata  in  one  part  having  no  correspondence  with 
those  in  another.  5.  The  different  states  of  decay  in 
these  strata,  which  seem  to  indicate  a  difference  in  the 
time  of  the  inhumation.  6.  The  existence  of  infant 
bones  among  them. 

But  on  whatever  occasion  they  may  have  been  made, 
they  are  of  considerable  notoriety  among  the  Indians; 
for  a  party  passing,  about  thirty  years  ago,  through  the 
part  of  the  country  where  this  barrow  is,  went  through 
the  woods  directly  to  it,  without  any  instructions  or 
inquiry,  and  having  staid  a])out  it  some  time,  with  ex- 
pressions which  were  construed  to  be  those  of  sorrow, 
they  returned  to  the  high  road,  which  they  had  left 
about  a  half  a  dozen  of  miles  to  pay  this  visit,  and  pur- 
sued their  journey.  There  is  another  barrow  much 
resembling  this,  in  the  low  grounds  of  the  south  branch 
of  Shenandoah  where  it  is  crossed  by  the  road  leading 
from  the  Rockfish  gap  to  Staunton.  Both  of  these  have 
within  these  dozen  years,  been  cleared  of  their  trees  and 
put  under  cultivation,  are  much  reduced  in  their  height. 


■'I 

It 


TT 


I  :^ 


J I 


■  ■  i\ 


'! 


• 


1: 


(  236  ) 

and  spread  in  width  by  the  plough,  and  will  probably 
disappear  in  time.  There  is  another  on  a  hill  in  the 
Blue  ridge  of  mountains,  a  few  miles  north  of  Wood's 
gap,  which  is  made  up  of  small  stones  thrown  together. 
This  has  been  opened  and  found  to  contain  human 
bones,  as  the  others  do.  There  are  also  many  others  in 
other  parts  of  the  country. 


St.  CLAIR'S  DEFEAT. 

The  following  message  from  the  president  of  the   United 
States,  to  Congress,  was  presented  by  his  Secretary,  Mr. 

United  States,  Dec.  12,  1791. 

Gentlemen  of  the  senate,  and  of  tlie 

house  of  representatives 

It  is  with  great  concern  that  I  communicate  to  you 
the  information  received  from  major  general  St.  Clair, 
of  the  misfortune  that  has  befallen  the  troops  under  his 
command. 

Although  the  national  loss  is  considerable,  according 
to  the  scale  of  the  event,  yet  it  may  be  repaired  without 
great  difficulty,  excepting  as  to  the  brave  men  who  have 
fallen  on  the  occasion,  and  who  are  a  subject  of  public, 
as  well  as  of  private  regret. 

A  further  communication  will  shortly  be  made,  of  all 
such  matters  as  shall  be  necessary,  to  enable  the  legisla- 
ture to  judge  of  the  future  measures  which  it  may  be 

proper  to  pursue. 

GEO.  WASHINGTON. 


SIR, 


(  237  ) 

Fort  Washington,  Oct.  0,  1791. 


I  have  now  the  satisfaction  to  inform  you,  that  the 
army  moved  from  fort  Hamilton,  the  name  I  have  given 
to  the  fort  on  the  Miami,  on  the  4th  at  eight  in  the 
morning,  under  the  command  of  general  Butler.  The 
order  of  march  and  encampment  I  had  regulated  before, 
and  on  the  third  returned  to  this  place  to  get  up  the 
militia.  They  marched  yesterday,  and  consisted  of 
about  three  hundred  men,  as  you  will  see  by  the  en- 
closed abstract  of  the  muster.  I  have  reason  to  believe, 
however,  that  at  least  an  equal  number  will  be  up  here 
by  the  10th,  and  I  have  left  orders  for  their  following 
us.  The  monthly  return  should  have  accompanied  this 
letter,  but  it  was  not  ready  when  I  left  camp,  and  has 
not  been  forwarded  since.  I  have  hitherto  found  it  im- 
possible to  reduce  the  officers  commanding  corps  to 
punctuality  with  respect  to  their  returns,  but  they  are 
mending.  Our  numbers,  after  deducting  the  garrisons 
of  this  place  and  fort  Hamilton,  are  about  two  thou- 
sand, exclusive  of  the  militia.  I  trust  I  shall  find  them 
sufficient;  and  should  the  rest  of  the  militia  come  on,  it 
would  make  the  matter  pretty  certain.  IJut  the  season 
is  now  go  far  advanced,  that  I  fear  the  intermediate 
posts,  which  indeed  would  have  been  highly  necessary, 
it  will  be  imposssble  to  establish;  in  that,  however,  I 
must  be  governed  by  circumstances,  of  which  I  will  take 
care  that  you  will  be  apprized  in  due  time.  Should  the 
enemv  come  to  meet  us,  which  seems  to  be  ex])ected, 
and  be  discomfited,  there  will  l)e  no  difficulties:  but  if 
they  expect  us  at  the  Miami  villages,  the  business  will 
wear  another  face,  and  tiie  intermediate  })osts  become 
more  essential. 

Since  the  quartermaster  has  been  here,  and  got  into 


r 


I 


TTT- 


■\i 


(  238  ) 

his  geers,  which  it  took  him  a  little  time  to  do,  I  am  very 
well  satisfied  with  him,  and  do  helieve  he  will  answer 
the  description  which  you  wore  pleased  to  give  me  of 
him;  his  husiness  seems  now  to  he  well  arranged. 

In  order  to  communicate  with  some  degree  of  cer- 
tainty with  your  office,  I  have  directed  captiiin  Buel, 
when  he  arrives,  to  send  a  serjeant  and  twelve  men  to  a 
house  that  has  heen  newl}'  erected,  half  way  hetween 
this  place  and  Lexington,  to  each  of  which  two  men 
are  to  be  sent  off"  on  every  Monday  morning  to  carry 
dispatches.  Those  for  the  war  othce,  or  any  other  public 
letters,  to  be  put  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Charles  Wilkins, 
merchant  of  Lexington,  who  has  engaged  to  forward  all 
I  have  occasion  to  send,  regularly  once  a  week :  and 
should  you,  sir,  think  proper  to  use  the  same  route  for 
any  of  yours,  if  they  are  sent  to  his  care,  he  will  forward 
them  to  me.  I  have  been  led  to  prefer  this  channel  of 
communication  to  that  of  the  river,  because  it  appears  to 
be  rather  the  more  certain  of  the  two,  though  it  may  be 
a  little  more  tedious,  and  because  desertion  continues  to 
prevail  among  the  troops,  and  the  sending  of  small 
parties  to  such  a  distance  gives  great  opportunity  to  ef- 
fect it.  General  Butler  informs  me  that  no  less  than 
twenty-one  went  off*  the  night  before  the  army  moved 
from  fort  Hamilton. 

I  am  this  moment  setting  out  for  the  army,  which  I 
hope  to  overtake  to-morrow  evening,  and  will  write  to 
you  again  as  soon  as  may  be. 

With  great  regard  and  respect, 
I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
Sir,  your  very  humb'e  servant. 

ARTHUR  St.  CLAIR. 
To  the  hon.  Major  Gen.  Knox, 

Secretary  of  War. 


(  239  ) 


I 

to 


Camp,  81  7nil€8  advanced  of  Fort  Washington,  Nov.  1,  1791. 
Sir, 

Since  I  had  the  honour  to  write  to  you  on  the  21  st 
ult  "■'^♦hing  very  material  has  happened  and  indeed  I 
am  ^/resent  so  unwell,  and  have  been  so  for  some  time 
past,  that  I  could  ill  detail  it,  if  it  had  happened — not 
that  that  space  of  time  has  been  entirely  barren  of  inci- 
dents, but  as  few  of  them  have  been  of  the  agreeable 
kind,  I  beg  you  to  accept  a  sort  of  journal  account  of 
them,  which  will  be  the  easiest  for  me. 

On  the  22d  the  indisposition  that  had  hung  about  me 
for  some  time,  sometimes  appearing  as  a  bilious  colic, 
and  sometimes  as  a  rheumatic  asthma,  to  my  great 
satisfaction,  changed  to  a  gout  in  the  left  arm  and  hand, 
leaving  the  breast  and  stomach  perfectly  relieved,  and 
the  ugh  entirely  gone.  This  day  Mr.  Ellis,  with  sixty 
mi  irom  Kentucky,  joined  the  army,  and  l^rought 

up  a  ^aantity  of  flour  and  beef. 

23d.  Two  men  taken  in  the  act  of  deserting  to  the 
enemy,  and  one  for  shooting  another  soldier  and  threat- 
ening to  kill  an  officer,  were  hanged  ui)on  the  grand 
parade,  the  whole  army  being  drawn  out.  Since  the 
army  has  halted,  the  country  around  this,  and  a-head 
for  fifteen  miles,  has  been  well  examined ;  it  is  a  country, 
which  had  we  arrived  a  month  sooner  in  it,  and  with 
three  times  the  number  of  animals,  they  would  all  have 
been  fat  now. 

24th.  Named  the  fort  Jefferson,  (it  lies  in  lat.  40°,  4', 
22",  N.)  and  marched,  the  same  Indian  path  serving  to 
conduct  us  about  six  miles,  and  encamped  on  good 
ground  and  an  excellent  position.  A  rivulet  in  front, 
and  a  very  large  prairie  which  would  at  the  proper  season 


n 


m 


:nrarii 


m 


V 


1''' 


\m 


N 


i  1 1 


(  240  ) 

afford  forage  for  a  thousand  horses,  on  the  left.  So  ill 
this  day  that  I  had  much  difficulty  in  keeping  with  the 
arm3\ 

25th.  Very  hard  rains  last  night,  obliged  to  halt  to- 
day, on  account  of  provisions;  for  though  the  soldiery 
may  be  kept  very  easy  in  camp  under  the  expectations 
of  provisions  arriving,  they  cannot  bear  to  march  in  ad- 
vance, and  take  none  along  with  them.  Received  a  let- 
ter from  Mr.  Hodgdon  by  express;  l^OrXJlbs.  flour  will 
arrive  the  27th. 

26th.  A  party  of  militia,  sent  to  reconnoitre,  fell  in 
with  five  Indians,  and  suffered  them  to  slip  through 
their  fingers  in  their  camp;  articles  to  the  value  of 
twenty-two  dollars  were  found  and  divided.  The  Vir- 
ginia battalion  is  melting  down  verv  ftist,  notwithstand- 
mg  the  promises  of  the  men  to  the  officers;  13  have 
been  discharged  by  col.  Darke  to  day. 

27th.  Gave  orders  for  enlisting  the  levies,  with  the 
condition  of  serving  out  their  time  in  the  present  corps. 
Payomingo  arrived  in  camp  with  his  warriors.  I  was  so 
unwell  could  only  see  him  and  bid  him  welcome,  but 
entered  on  no  business — considerable  dissatisfaction 
among  the  levies  about  their  enlistments. 

28th.  Some  cloathing  sent  for  to  fort  Washington  for 
the  recruits  arrived,  was  begun  to  be  distributed,  and 
will  have  a  good  effect;  but  tlie  enlisting  the  levies  does 
not  meet  with  the  encouragement  that  might  have  been 
expected — it  is  not  openly  complained  of  by  the  officers, 
but  it  is  certainly  privately,  by  some  of  high  rank,  and 
the  measure  of  tempting  them  with  warm  clothing  con- 
demned. Mr.  Hodgdon  writes  me  that  he  is  sending 
forward  a,  (i[uantity  of  woolen  overalls  and  stocks,  by 
general  Butler's  orders — I  have  ordered  them  to  be  de- 


I  (I 


i 


(  241  ) 

posited  at  fort  Jeft'erson.  Some  few  Indians  about  us, 
probably  those  the  militia  fell  in  with  a  day  or  two  ago 
— two  of  the  levies  were  fired  upon  about  three  miles 
off",  one  killed;  two  of  the  militia  likewise,  one  of  them 
got  in  and  the  other  missing,  supposed  to  be  taken. 

"i9th.  Payomingo  and  his  people,  accompiinied  by 
captain  Sparks  and  four  good  ritiemen,  gone  on  a  scout, 
they  do  not  propose  to  return  under  ten  days,  unless 
they  sooner  succeed  in  taking  prisoners. 

80th.  The  army  moved  about  nine  o'clock,  and  with 
much  difficulty  made  seven  miles,  having  left  a  consid- 
erable part  of  the  tents  by  the  way,  the  provisions  made 
by  the  quarter  master  was  not  adequate.  Three  days' 
fiour  issued  to  the  m.  The  Indian  road  still  with  us. 
The  course  tliis  day  N.  25°  W. 

31st.  This  morning  about  60  of  the  militia  deserted. 
It  was  at  first  reported,  that  one  half  uf  them  had  gone 
off',  and  that  their  design  was  to  plunaer  the  convoys 
which  were  upon  the  road 1  detached  the  first  regi- 
ment in  pursuit  of  them,  with  orders  to  Major  Ham- 
tramck  to  send  a  sufficient  guard  back  with  Benham  (a 
commissary)  whenever  he  met  with  him,  and  follow 
them  about  twenty  five  miles  below  fort  Jefferson,  or 
until  he  met  the  second  convoy,  and  then  return  and 
join  tlie  army.  Benham  arrived  last  night;  and  to-day, 
November  1st,  the  army  is  halted  to  give  the  road-cut- 
ters an  opportunity  of  getting  some  distance  a-head,  and 
that  I  might  write  to  you.  I  am  this  day  considerably 
recovered,  and  hope  that  it  will  turn  out,  what  I  first 
expected  it  would  be,  a  friendly  lit  of  the  gout,  come  to 
relieve  me  from  every  other  c()mi)hunt. 

Yesterday  I  was  favoured  with  yours  of  the  2Sth  and 
21)th  of  Sept.      I  have  enclosed  my  communications 


} 


wmmmm 


(  242  ) 

with  the  old  and  new  contractors,  and  their  answers. 
My  orders  for  the  post  to  them  are  not  yet  definite;  but 
they  will  be  very  soon.  In  the  mean  time,  I  expect  they 
are  both  at  work. 

With  great  respect, 
I  have  the  honour  to  be. 
Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  servant. 

ARTHUR  St.  C:LAIR. 
P.  S.    Your  letters  for  general  Wilkinson,  and  general 
Scott,  Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Brown,  are  sent  back,  and  the 
public  thanks  in  the  name  of  the  president,  presented  to 
gen.  Wilkinson  agreeably  to  your  directions. 
To  the  hon.  Major  Gen.  Knox, 
Secretary  of  War. 


Sir, 


Fort  Washington,  Nov.  9,  1791. 


Yesterday  afternoon  the  remains  of  the  army  under 
my  command  got  back  to  tliis  place,  and  I  have  now  the 
painful  task  to  give  you  an  account  of  as  warm  and  un- 
fortunate an  action  as  almost  any  that  has  been  fought, 
in  wliich  every  corps  was  engaged  and  worsted,  except 
the  first  regiment,  that  had  been  detached  upon  a  ser- 
vice I  had  the  honor  to  inform  you  of  in  my  last  dis- 
patch, and  had  not  joined  me. 

On  the  8d  instant  the  army  had  reached  a  creek  about 
twelve  yards  wide,  running  to  the  southward  of  west, 
which  I  believe  to  have  been  the  river  St.  Mary,  which 
empties  itself  into  the  Miami  of  the  lake,  at  the  Miami 
village,  about  four  o'clock  in  tlie  afternoon,  having 
marched   near  nine  miles,  and  were  immediately  en- 


(243) 


camped  upon  a  very  commanding  piece  of  ground,  in 
two  lines,  having  the  above  mentioned  creek  in  front. 
The  right  wing  composed  of  Butler's,  Clarke's  and  Pat- 
terson's battalions,  commanded  by  major-general  Butler, 
formed  the  first  line,  and  the  left  wing  consisting  of 
Bedinger's  and  Gaither's  battalions,  and  the  second  regi- 
ment commanded  by  lieut.-colonel  Darke,  formed  the 
second  line,  with  an  interval  between  them  of  about 
seventy  yards,  which  was  all  the  ground  would  allow. 
The  right  flank  was  pretty  well  secured  by  the  creek,  a 
steep  bank,  and  Faulkner's  corps;  some  of  the  cavalry 
piquets  covered  the  left  flank.    The  militia  were  thrown 
over  the  creek,  and  advanced  about  one  quarter  of  a 
mile  and  encamped  in  the  same  order.    There  were  a 
few  Indians  who  appeared  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
creek,  but  fled  with  the  utmost  precipitation  on  the 
advance  of  the  militia.     At  this  place,  which  I  judged 
to  be  about  fifteen  miles  from  the  Miami  village,  I  had 
determined  to  throw  up  a  slight  work,  the  plan  of  which 
was  concerted  that  evening  with  major  Ferguson,  where- 
in to  have  deposited  the  men's  knapsacks,  and  every 
thing  else  that  was  not  of  absolute  necessity,  and  to 
have  moved  on  to  attack  the  enemy  as  soon  as  the  first 
regiment  was  come  up;  but  they  did  not  permit  me  to 
execute  either,  for  on  tlie  fourtli,  about  half  an  hour 
before  sunrise,  and  when  the  men  had  been  just  dis- 
missed from  the  parade  (for  it  was  a  constant  i)ractice 
to  have  them  all  under  arms  a  considerable  time  before 
day-light)  an  attack  was  made  ujjou  the  militia — those 
gave  way  in  a  very  little  time,  and  rushed  into  camp 
through  mnjor  Butler's  batttilion,  which  together  with 
l>art  of  Clarkr's  threw  them  into  considerable  disorder, 
which  notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  both,  and  those 


I.) 


I 


(  244  ) 

officers,  was  never  altogether  remedied,  the  Indians  fol- 
lowing close  at  their  heels.  The  fire  however  of  the  first 
line  checked  them,  but  almost  instantly  a  very  heavy 
attack  began  upon  that  line,  and  in  a  few  minutes  it  was 
extended  to  the  second  likewise;  the  great  weight  of  it 
was  directed  against  the  centre  of  each,  where  the  artil- 
lery was  placed,  and  from  which  the  men  were  repeat- 
edly driven  with  great  slaughter.  Finding  no  great 
effect  from  our  fire,  and  confusion  beginning  to  spread, 
from  the  great  number  of  men  who  were  falling  in  all 
quarters,  it  became  necessary  to  try  what  could  be  done 
by  the  bayonet.  Lieutenant  colonel  Darke  was  accord- 
ingly ordered  to  make  a  charge  with  part  of  the  second 
line,  and  to  turn  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy — this  was 
executed  with  great  spirit — the  Indians  instantly  gave 
way,  and  were  driven  back  three  or  four  hundred  yards; 
but  for  want  of  a  sufficient  number  of  rifle  men  to  pur- 
sue this  advantage,  they  soon  returned,  and  the  troops 
were  obliged  to  give  back  in  their  turn.  At  this  moment 
they  had  entered  our  camp  by  the  left  flank,  having 
pushed  back  the  troops  that  were  posted  there.  Another 
charge  was  made  here  by  the  second  regiment,  Butler's 
and  Clarke's  battalions,  with  equal  effect,  and  it  was 
repeated  se>^eral  times,  and  always  with  success ;  in  all 
of  them  many  men  were  lost,  and  particularly  the 
officers,  which,  with  so  raw  troops,  was  a  loss  altogether 
irremediable.  In  that  just  spoke  of,  made  by  the  second 
regiment,  and  Butler's  battalion,  mjijor  Butler  was  dan- 
gerously wounded,  and  every  officer  of  the  second  regi- 
ment fell,  except  three,  one  of  whom  Mr.  Creaton  was 
shot  through  the  l)()dy.  Our  artillery  l)eing  now 
silenced,  and  all  the  oflicers  killed,  except  captain  Ford, 
who  was  very  badly  wounded,  and  more  than  half  of 


mm 


■W^«^F^».,l"  V  • 


(  245  ) 

the  army  fallen,  being  cut  off  from  the  road,  it  became 
necessary  to  attempt  the  regaining  it,  and  to  make  a 
retreat  if  possible — to  this  purpose  the  remains  of  the 
army  were  formed  as  well  as  circumstances  would 
admit,  towards  the  right  of  the  encampment,  from 
which  by  the  way  of  the  second  line,  another  charge 
was  made  upon  the  enemy,  as  if  with  the  design  to  turn 
their  right  flank,  but  in  fact  to  gain  the  road.  This  was 
effected,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  open  the  militia  took 
along  it,  followed  by  the  troops,  major  Clarke  with  his 
battalion  covering  the  rear.  The  retreat,  in  these  cir- 
cumstances was  you  may  be  sure  a  very  precipitate  one 
— it  was  in  fact  a  flight — The  camp  and  the  artillery 
were  abandoned ;  but  that  was  unavoidable,  for  not  an 
horse  was  left  alive  to  have  drawn  it  off',  had  it  other- 
wise been  practicable.  But  the  most  disgraceful  part  of 
the  business  is,  that  the  greatest  part  of  the  men  threw 
away  their  arms  and  accoutrements,  even  after  the  pur- 
suit, (which  continued  about  four  miles)  had  ceased.  I 
found  the  road  strewed  with  them  for  many  miles,  but 
was  not  able  to  remedy  it;  for  having  had  all  my  horses 
killed,  and  being  mounted  upon  one  that  could  not  be 
pricked  out  of  a  walk,  I  could  not  get  forward  myself; 
and  the  orders  I  sent  forward,  either  to  halt  the  front  or 
to  prevent  the  men  from  parting  with  their  arms,  were 
unattended  to. 

The  route  continued  quite  to  fort  Jefferson,  29  miles, 
which  was  reached  at  a  little  after  sun-setting. 

The  action  began  about  half  an  hour  before  sunrise, 
and  the  retreat  was  attemi)ted  half  an  hour  after  nine 
o'clock. 

I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  get  returns  of  the  killed 
and  wounded;  but  major  general  Butler,  lieut.  col.  Old- 
10 


(246) 


\  I 
1/ »' 


ham  of  the  militia,  majors  Ferguson,  Heart,  and  Clarke, 
are  among  the  former.  Col.  Sargent  my  adjutant-gen- 
eral, lieut.  col.  Darke,  lieut.  col.  Gibson,  major  Butler 
and  the  viscount  Malartie,  who  served  me  as  an  aid-de- 
camp, are  among  the  latter,  and  a  great  number  of  cap- 
tains and  subalterns  in  both. 

I  have  now,  sir,  finished  my  melancholy  tale — a  tale 
that  will  be  felt  sensibly  by  every  one  that  has  sympathy 
for  private  distress,  or  for  public  misfortune. 

I  have  nothing,  sir,  to  lay  to  the  charge  of  the  troops 
but  their  want  of  discipline,  which  from  the  short  time 
they  had  been  in  service  it  was  impossible  they  should 
have  acquired,  and  which  rendered  it  very  difficult,  when 
they  were  thrown  into  confusion,  to  reduce  them  again 
to  order,  and  is  one  reason  why  the  loss  has  fallen  so 
heavily  upon  the  officers,  who  did  every  thing  in  their 
power  to  effect  it;  neither  were  my  own  exertions  want- 
ing, but  worn  down  with  illness,  and  suffering  under  a 
painful  disease,  unable  either  to  mount  or  dismount  an 
horse  without  assistance,  they  were  not  so  great  as  they 
otherwise  would,  and  perhaps  ought  to  have  been.  We 
were  overpowered  by  numbers ;  but  it  is  no  more  than 
justice  to  observe,  that  though  composed  of  so  many  dif- 
ferent species  of  troops,  the  utmost  harmony  prevailed 
through  the  whole  army  during  the  campaign. 

At  fort  Jefferson,  I  found  the  first  regiment,  which  had 
returned  from  the  service  they  had  been  sent  upon  with- 
out either  overtaking  the  deserters  or  meeting  the  con- 
voys of  provision.  I  am  not  certain,  sir,  whether  I  ought 
to  consider  the  absence  of  this  regiment  from  the  field  of 
action  as  fortunate  or  otherwise — I  incline  to  think  it 
was  fortunate ;  for  I  very  much  doubt  whether,  had  it 
been  in  the  action,  the  fortune  of  the  day  had  been 


il 


(  247  ) 

turned :  and  if  it  had  not  the  triumph  of  the  enemy 
would  have  been  more  complete,  and  the  country  would 
have  been  destitute  of  every  means  of  defence. 

Taking  a  view  of  the  situation  of  our  broken  troops  at 
fort  Jefferson,  and  that  there  was  no  provisions  in  the 
fort,  I  called  upon  the  field  officers,  viz.  lieut.  col.  Darke, 
major  Hamtramck,  major  Zeigler  and  major  Gaither,  to- 
gether with  the  adjutant  general  for  their  advice,  what 
would  be  proper  further  to  be  done,  and  it  was  their 
unanimous  opinion,  that  the  addition  of  the  first  regi- 
ment, unbroken  as  it  was,  did  not  put  the  army  on  as 
respectable  a  footing  as  it  was  in  the  morning,  because 
a  great  part  of  it  was  now  unarmed — That  it  had  been 
then  found  unequal  to  the  enemy ;  and  should  they  come 
on  which  was  probable,  would  be  found  so  again — That 
the  troops  could  not  be  thrown  into  the  fort,  both  be- 
cause it  was  so  small,  and  that  there  were  no  provisions 
in  it — That  provisions  were  known  to  be  upon  the  road, 
at  the  distance  of  one  or  at  most  two  marches — That 
therefore  it  would  be  proper  to  move,  without  loss  of 
time  to  meet  the  provisions,  when  the  men  might  have 
the  sooner  an  opportunity  of  some  refreshment,  and  that 
a  proper  detachment  might  be  sent  back  with  it  to  have 
it  safely  deposited  in  the  fort.  This  advice  was  accepted, 
and  the  army  put  in  motion  again  at  ten  o'clock,  and 
marched  all  night,  and  the  succeeding  day  met  with  a 
quantity  of  flour — part  of  it  was  distributed  immediately 
— part  taken  back  to  supply  tlie  army  on  the  march  to 
fort  Hamilton,  and  the  remainder  ( about  fifty  horse 
lf>ads)  sent  forward  to  fort  Jefferson — the  next  day  a 
drove  of  cattle  was  met  with  for  the  same  place,  and  I 
have  information  thut  both  got  in :  The  wounded  who 
had  been  left  at  that  place,  were  ordered  to  be  brought 
here  by  the  return  horses. 


nmmm 


^ 


f( 


i 


V: 


w 


'.•f 


t,  '_ 
1. 1 1^  i 


(  248) 

I  have  said,  sir,  in  a  former  part  of  this  letter,  that  we 
were  overpowered  by  numbers :  of  that,  however,  I  have 
no  other  evidence  than  the  weight  of  the  fire,  which  was 
always  a  most  deadly  one,  and  generally  delivered  from 
the  ground,  few  of  the  enemy  shewing  themselves  on 
foot,  except  when  they  were  charged ;  and  that  in  a  few 
minutes  our  whole  camp,  which  extended  above  three 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  length,  was  entirely  sur- 
rounded, and  attacked  on  all  quarters. 

The  loss,  sir,  the  public  has  sustained  by  the  fall  of  so 
many  brave  officers,  particularly  general  Butler  and 
major  Ferguson,  cannot  be  too  much  regretted;  but  it  is 
a  circumstance  that  will  alleviate  the  misfortune  in  some 
measure,  that  all  of  them  fell  most  gallantly  doing  their 
duty.  I  have  had  very  particular  obligation  to  many 
of  them,  as  well  as  to  the  survivors,  but  to  none  more 
than  to  col.  Sargent — He  has  discharged  the  various 
duties  of  his  office  with  zeal,  with  exactness,  and  with 
intelligence,  and  on  all  occasions  afforded  me  every  as- 
sistance in  his  power ;  which  I  have  also  experienced 
from  my  aid  de-camp,  lieutenant  Denny,  and  the  vis- 
count Malartie,  who  served  with  me  in  that  station,  as 
a  volunteer. 

With  every  sentiment  of  respect  and  regard, 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  servant. 

ARTHUR  St.  CLAIR. 

To  the  hon.  Major  Gen.  Knox, 
Secretary  of  War. 

P.  S.  Some  orders  that  had  been  given  to  colonel  Old- 
ham over  night  and  which  were  of  much  consequence, 


^ 


(  249  ) 

were  not  executed ;  and  some  very  material  intelligence 
was  communicated  by  captain  Slough  to  general  Butler, 
in  the  course  of  the  night  before  the  action,  which  was 
never  imparted  to  me,  nor  did  I  hear  of  it  until  after  my 
arrival  here. 


PHILADELPHIA,  Dec.  23. 

Last  Wednesday  evening  lieutenant  Denny,  aid-de- 
camp to  major  general  St.  Clair,  arrived  with  dispatches 
for  the  secretary  of  war,  dated  fort  Washington,  the  17th 
November. 

The  garrison  at  fort  Jefferson  was  intended  to  be  con- 
tinued, and  was  not  conceived  to  be  in  any  danger;  it 
was  well  supplied  with  provisions  provided  with  artillery, 
and  commanded  by  captain  Shailer  of  the  2nd  regiment. 
Most  of  the  wounded  had  arrived  at  fort  Washington 
from  fort  Jefferson. 

Piamingo,  the  Chickasaw  chief,  had  returned  safe  with 
his  warriors,  and  captain  Sparks,  of  Clarke's  battalion, 
bringing  with  them  five  scalps. 

The  Kentucky  militia,  under  generals  Scott  and  Wil- 
kinson, all  mounted  and  furnished  with  twenty  days 
provisions,  would  probably  arrive  at  fort  Washington 
about  the  20th  of  November. 

It  was  expected  that  the  dispersed  situation  of  the  In- 
dians would  afford  a  good  opportunity  for  the  militia  to 
make  an  important  stroke  yet  this  winter. 

The  brave  major  Clark  (who  covered  the  retreat  with 
some  soldiers  )  supposed  to  be  killed,  had  arrived  safe  at 
fort  Washington. 

The  levies  were  generally  discharged,  excepting  those 
who  had  enlisted  into  the  regular  service. 


{ 


'■    1 


(  250  ) 


I 


if 


I 


AutJientlc  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the  army  of  the 
United  States,  commanded  by  major-general  St.  Clair^ 
November  Ath,  1791.  From  the  returns  of  the  adjutant 
general. 

Major  gen.  Butler,  killed. 

Colonel  Sargent,  (adjutant  general)  and  the  viscount 
Malartie,  acting  as  aid-de-camp,  wounded. 

Artillery.  Killed — Major  Ferguson,  capt.  Bradford, 
lieut.  Spear. 

Wounded — Capt.  Ford. 

Cavalry.  Wounded — Capt.  Trueman,  lieut.  de  Butts, 
cornet  Bhines. 

Ist  United  States  Regiment.   Wounded Capt.  Doyle. 

2nd  United  States  Regiment.  Killed — Major  Heart, 
captains  Kirkwood,  Phelon  and  Newman,  lieutenant 
Warren,  ensigns  Balch  and  Cobb. 

Wounded — Lieut.  Greaton. 

Ist  Regiment  of  Levies. — Killed — Captains  Van  Swear- 
ingen,Tipton  and  Price:  lieutenants  M'MathandBoydJ 
ensigns  Wilson,  Reeves,  Brooks,  Chace,  and  Turner ;  ad- 
jutant Burges;  Dr.  Grasson. 

Wounded — Lieutenant  colonel  Darke ;  captains  Darke 
and  Buchannen,  lieutenants  Morgan,  Lyle,  M'Rhea, 
Davidson  and  Price ;  adjutant  Whistler. 

2d  Regiment  of  Levies.  Killed — Capts.  Cribbs,  Piatt? 
Smith  and  Purdy ;  lieuts.  Kelso  and  Lukins ;  ensigns 
M'Michael,  Beattie  and  Purdy;  adjutant  Anderson. 

Wounded — Lieutenant  colonel  Gibson;  major  Butler; 
captain  Slough  ;  lieutenants  Thompson,  Cummings  and 
Reed;  ensign  Morehead;  adjutant  Crawford. 

Kentucky  Militia.  Killed — Lieutenant  colonel  Old- 
ham, captain  Leman,  lieut.  Brigs,  ensign. 


(  251  ) 

PFoundcc?— Captains  Thomas  and  Madison,  lieuts. 
Owens  and  Stagner,  ensign  Walter,  doctor  Ganoe. 

A^on- Commissioned  Officers  and  Privates. 

Killed  and  missing  593. 

Wounded  214. 

N.  B.  Of  the  first  United  States  regiment  a  small  de- 
tachment only  was  in  the  action,  the  regiment  being  on 
command. 


The  following  extracts  from  the  History  of  the  American  In- 
dians;  particularly  those  nations  adjoining  to  the  Mmis- 
sippi,  East  and  West  Florida,  Georgia,  South  and  North 
Carolina,  and  Virginia.  By  James  Adair,  Esquire,  a 
trader  with  the  Indians,  and  resident  in  their  country  for 
forty  years. 

In  Tymahse,  a  lower  Cheerake  town,  lived  one  of  their 
reputed  great  divine  men,  who  never  informed  the  peo- 
ple of  his  seeking  for  rain,  but  at  the  change,  or  full  of 
the  moon,  unless  there  was  some  promising  sign  of  the 
change  of  the  weather,  either  in  the  upper  regions  or 
from  the  feathered  kalender;  such  as  the  quacking  of 
ducks,  the  croaking  of  ravens,  and  from  the  moistness 
of  the  air  felt  in  their  quills ;  consequently  he  seldom 
failed  of  success,  which  highly  increased  his  name  and 
profits;  for  even  when  it  rained  at  other  times  they  as- 
cribed it  to  the  intercession  of  their  great  beloved  man. 
Rain  making,  in  the  Cheerake  mountains,  is  not  so  dan- 
gerous an  office,  as  in  the  rich  level  lands  of  the  Chik- 
kasah  country,  near  the  Mississippi.  The  above  Cheer- 
ake prophet  had  a  carbuncle,  near  as  big  as  an  egg, 
which  they  said  he  found  where  a  great  rattle  snake  lay 


r.' 


m 

fS& 

W  Wm 

'•  ^ffl 

'^'^ui 

I'tii 

s  1m 

|fl 

''1 

T 


'W 


!1 


(  252  ) 

dead ;  and  that  it  sparkled  with  such  surprising  lustre, 
as  to  illuminate  his  dark  winter  house,  like  strong  flashes 
of  continued  lightning,  to  the  great  terror  of  the  weak, 
who  durst  not  upon  any  account,  approach  the  dreadful 
fire  darting  place,  for  fear  of  sudden  death.  When  he 
died,  it  was  buried  along  with  him  according  to  custom, 
in  the  town  house  of  Tymahse,  under  the  great  beloved 
cabbin,  which  stood  in  the  westernmost  part  of  that  old 
fabric,  where  they  who  will  run  the  risk  of  searching, 
may  luckily  find  it;  but  if  any  of  that  family  detected 
them  in  disturbing  the  bones  of  their  deceased  relation, 
they  would  resent  it  as  the  basest  act  of  hostility.  The 
inhuman  conduct  of  the  avaricious  Spaniards  toward 
the  dead  Peruviari^  and  Mexicans,  irritated  the  natives 
to  the  highest  pit3h  of  distraction,  against  those  ravaging 
enemies  of  huminity.  The  intense  love  the  Indians 
bear  to  their  dea  1,  is  the  reason  that  so  few  have  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  our  physicians  to  dissect  or  anatomise. 
We  will  hope  also,  that  from  a  principle  of  humanity, 
our  ague  charmers,  and  water  casters,  who  like  birds  of 
night  keep  Avhere  the  Indians  frequently  haunt,  would 
not  cut  up  their  fellow  creatures,  as  was  done  by  the 
Spanish  butchers  in  Peru  and  Mexico. 

Not  long  ago,  at  a  friendly  feast,  or  feast  of  love,  in 
West  Florida,  during  the  time  of  a  long-continued 
drought,  I  earnestly  importuned  the  old  rain  maker, 
for  a  sight  of  the  pretended  divine  stone,  which  he  had 
assured  me  he  was  possessed  of;  but  he  would  by  no 
means  gratify  my  request.  He  told  me,  as  I  was  an 
infidel,  literally  "one  who  shakes  hands  with  the  ac- 
cursed speech,"  and  did  not  believe  its  being  endued 
with  a  divine  power,  the  sight  of  it  could  no  ways 
benefit  me;  and  that,  as  their  old  unerring  tradition 


. 


T 


(  253  ) 

assured  them,  it  would  suffer  very  great  damage  in  case 
of  compliance,  he  hoped  I  would  kindly  acquiesce ; 
especially,  as  he  imagined,  I  believed  every  nation  of 
people  had  certain  beloved  things,  that  might  be  easily 
spoiled  by  being  polluted.  I  told  him  I  was  fully  sat- 
isfied with  the  friendly  excuse  he  made  to  my  incon- 
siderate request:  but  that  I  could  scarcely  imagine 
there  were  any  such  beloved  men,  and  beloved  things, 
in  so  extremely  fertile,  but  now  sun  burnt  soil.  Their 
crops  had  failed  the  year  before,  by  reason  of  several 
concurring  causes:  and  for  the  most  part  of  the  summer 
season,  he  had  kept  his  bed  through  fear  of  incurring 
the  punishment  of  a  false  prophet:  which,  joined  with 
the  religious  regimen,  and  abstemious  way  of  living  he 
was  obliged  strictly  to  pursue,  it  sweated  him  so 
severely,  as  to  reduce  him  to  a  skeleton.  I  jested  him 
in  a  friendly  way,  saying,  I  imagined,  the  supreme  holy 
fire  would  have  proved  more  kind  to  his  honest  de- 
votees, than  to  sicken  him  so  severely  especially  at  that 
critical  season,  when  the  people's  food,  and  his  own 
entirely  depended  on  his  health:  that,  though  our 
beloved  men  never  undertook  to  bring  down  seasonable 
rains,  yet  we  very  seldom  failed  to  have  good  crops, 
and  always  paid  them  the  tenth  basketful  of  our  yearly 
produce ;  because,  they  persuaded  our  young  people,  by 
the  force  of  their  honest  example,  and  kind-hearted 
enchanting  language,  to  shun  the  crooked  ways  of 
TTnnurl'  '  (llakse,  "  the  mad  light  of  the  people,"  and 
to  shake  hands  with  the  old  beloved  speech — 
.t  I  j;reat,  supreme,  fatherly  chieftain,  had  told  his 
acht  lo  teach  us  how  to  obtain  peace  ar^d  plenty,  and 
every  other  good  thing  while  we  live  here,  and  when  we 
tUe,  not  only  to  shun  the  accursed  dark  place,  where  the 


j'l 


II 


',  ( 


♦•  > 


li 


-m 


\i 


tU  I 


1,1 1 


'^ 


*  1  n 


(  254  ) 

sun  is  every  day  drowned,  but  likewise  to  live  again  for 
ever,  very  happily  in  the  favourite  country. 

He  replied  that  my  speech  consisted  of  a  mixture  of 
good  and  ill;  the  beginning  of  it  was  crooked,  and  the 
conclusion  straight.  He  said  I  had  wrongfully  blamed 
him,  for  the  effect  of  the  disorderly  conduct  of  the  red 
people  and  himself,  as  it  was  well  known  he  fasted  at 
different  times  for  several  days  together;  at  other  times 
ate  green  tobacco  leaves ;  and  some  days  drank  only  a 
warm  decoction  of  the  button  snake  root,  without  allow- 
ing any  one,  except  his  leligious  attendant,  to  come 
near  him ;  and  in  every  other  respect,  had  honestly  ob- 
served the  austere  rules  of  his  religious  place  according 
to  the  beloved  speech  that  Ishtohoollo  Eloa  Aha  gave  to 
the  Loache  of  their  forefathers :  but  Loak  Ishtohoollo  was 
sorely  vexed  with  most  of  their  young  people  for  violat- 
ing the  chastity  of  their  neighbours  wives,  and  even 
among  the  thriving  green  corn  and  peas,  as  their  beds 
here  and  there  clearly  proved;  thus,  they  spoiled  the 
power  of  his  holy  things,  and  tempted  Mingo  Ishto  Eloa, 
"the  great  chieftan  of  the  thunder,"  to  bind  up  the 
clouds,  and  withhold  the  rain.  Besides,  that  the  old 
women  were  less  honest  in  paying  their  rain-maker, 
than  the  ICnglish  women  behaved  to  their  beloved  men, 
unless  I  had  spoken  too  well  of  them.  The  wives  of 
this  and  the  other  person,  he  said,  had  cheated  him,  in 
not  paying  him  any  portion  of  the  last  year's  bad  crop, 
which  their  own  bad  lives  greatly  contributed  to,  as  that 
penurious  crime  of  cheating  him  of  his  dues,  sufficiently 
testified;  not  to  mention  a  late  custom,  they  had  con- 
tracted since  ^the  general  peace,  of  planting  a  great 
many  fields  of  beans  and  peas,  in  distant  i)laces,  after 
the  summer  crops  were  over,  on  the  like  dishonest  prin- 


, 


(  255  ) 

ciple ;  likewise  in  affixming,  that  when  the  harvest  was 
over,  it  rained  for  nothing;  by  that  means  they  had 
blackened  the  old  beloved  speech  that  Ishtohoollo  Eloa 
of  old  spoke  to  his  Loache,  and  conveyed  down  to  him, 
only  that  they  might  paint  their  own  bad  actions  white. 
He  concluded,  by  saying,  that  all  the  chieftains,  and 
others  present,  as  well  as  myself,  knew  now  very  well, 
from  his  honest  speech,  the  true  cause  of  the  earth's 
having  been  so  strangely  burnt  till  lately ;  and  that  he 
was  afraid,  if  the  hearts  of  those  light  and  mad  peor^le 
he  complained  of,  did  not  speedily  grow  honest,  the 
dreadful  day  would  soon  come,  in  which  Loak  Ishto- 
hoollo would  send  Phutchick  Keeraah  Ishto,  "  the  great 
blazing  star,"  Yahkane  eeklenna,  Loak  loachache^  "  to  burn 
up  half  of  the  earth  with  fire,"  Pherimmi  Aiiibe,  "  ^rom 
the  north  to  the  south,"  Hasse  oobea  pera,  "toward  the 
setting  of  the  sun,"  where  they  should  in  time  arrive  aL 
the  dreadful  place  of  darkness,  be  confined  there  hungry, 
and  otherwise  sorely  distrost  among  hissing  snakes,  and 
many  other  frightful  creatures,  according  to  the  ancient 
and  true  speech  that  Ishlo)ioollo  Aha  spoke  to  his  beloved 
Loache. 

I  shall  insert  a  dialogue,  that  formerly  passed  between 
the  Chikkasah  Loache  and  me,  which  will  illustrate  both 
this,  and  other  particulars  of  the  general  subject ;  and 
also  show  the  religious  advantages  and  arguments,  by 
which  the  French  used  to  undermine  us  with  the  Indians. 

Vv'e  had  been  speaking  of  trade,  wliich  is  the  usual 
topic  of  discourse  with  those  craftnien.  1  asked  liini 
how  he  could  reasonably  blame  the  English  traders  tor 
cheating  Tekapc  humiiuih^  "the  red  folks,"  even  allowing 
his  accusations  to  be  just:  as  he,  their  divine  man,  had 
cheated  them  out  of  a  great  part  of  their  crops,  and  had 


-  d 


'I' 


'i\ 


w 


l»i.- 


1:' 


41     . 


I 
('I     ' 


(  256  ) 

the  assurance  to  claim  it  as  his  religious  due,  when  at 
the  same  time,  if  he  had  shaked  hands  with  the  straight 
old  beloved  speech,  or  strictly  observed  the  ancient  di- 
vine law,  his  feeling  heart  would  not  have  allowed  him 
to  have  done  such  black  and  crooked  things,  especially 
to  the  helpless,  the  poor,  and  the  aged :  it  rather  would 
have  strongly  moved  him  to  stretch  out  to  them  a  kind 
and  helping  hand,  according  to  the  old  beloved  speech 
of  Ishtohoollo  Aba  to  his  Hottuk  lahtohoollo,  who  were 
sufficiently  supported  at  the  public  expense,  and  strictly 
ordered  to  supply  with  the  greatest  tenderness,  the  wants 
of  others. 

He  smartly  retorted  my  objections,  telling  me,  that 
the  white  people's  excuses  for  their  own  wrong  conduct, 
were  as  false  and  weak  as  my  complaints  were  against 
him.  Tlie  red  people,  he  said,  saw  very  clearly  through 
such  thin  black  paint;  though  his  sacred  employment 
was  equally  hid  from  them  and  me;  by  which  means, 
neither  of  us  could  reasonably  pretend  to  be  proper 
judges  of  his  virtuous  conduct,  nor  blame  him  for  the 
necessary  etlect  of  our  own  crimes ;  or  urge  it  as  a  plea 
for  cheating  him  out  of  his  yearly  dues,  contrary  to  the 
old  divine  speech,  for  the  crops  became  light  by  their 
own  vicious  conduct,  which  spoiled  the  i)ower  of  his  holy 
things.  So  that  it  was  visible,  both  the  red  and  white 
people  were  commonly  too  partial  to  themselves ;  and 
that  by  the  bounty  of  the  supreme  fatherly  Chieftain,  it 
was  as  much  out  of  his  power,  as  distant  from  his  kindly 
heart  either  to  wrong  the  beloved  red  people,  or  the  white 
nothingp ;  and  that  it  became  none,  except  mad  light 
people,  to  follow  the  crooked  steps  of  Hottuck  OoJqn'oose, 
the  accursed  people. 

As  there  was  no  interruption  to  our  winter-night's 
chat,  I  asked  him  in  a  friendly  manner,  whether  he  was 


^sm 


(  257  ) 

not  afraid,  thus  boldly  to  snatch  at  the  divine  power  of 
distributing  rain  at  his  pleasure,  as  it  belonged  only  to 
the  great  beloved  thundering  Chieftain,  who  dwells  far 
above  the  clouds,  in  the  new  year's  unpolluted  holy  fire, 
and  who  gives  it  in  common  to  all  nations  of  people 
alike,  and  even  to  every  living  creature  over  the  face  of 
the  whole  earth,  because  he  made  them — and  his  merci- 
ful goodness  always  prompts  him  to  supply  the  wants 
of  all  his  creatures.  He  told  me,  that  by  an  ancient 
tradition  their  Loache  were  possessed  of  an  extraordinary 
divine  power,  by  which  they  foretold  hidden  things, 
and  by  the  beloved  speech  brought  down  showers  of 
plenty  to  the  beloved  people ;  that  he  very  well  knew, 
the  giver  of  virtue  to  nature  resided  on  earth  in  the  un- 
polluted holy  fire,  and  likewise  above  the  clouds  and 
the  sun,  in  the  shape  of  a  fine  fiery  substance  attended 
by  a  great  many  beloved  people ;  and  that  he  contin- 
ually weighs  us,  and  measures  out  good  or  bad  things, 
to  us,  according  to  our  actions.  He  added,  that  though 
the  former  beloved  speech  had  a  long  time  subsided,  it 
was  very  reasona})le  they  should  continue  this  their  old 
beloved  custom ;  especially  as  it  was  both  profitable  in 
supporting  many  of  their  helpless  old  beloved  men,  and 
very  productive  of  virtue,  by  awing  their  young  people 
from  violating  the  ancient  laws.  This  shewed  hiiu  to  be 
cunning  in  priest  craft,  if  not  possessed  of  a  tradition 
from  the  Hebrew  records,  that  their  j)r()phets  by  tlie  di- 
vine power,  had  on  material  occasions,  acted  beyond 
the  stated  laws  of  nature,  and  wrought  miracles. 

My  old  pro])hetic  friend  told  me,  with  a  good  deal  of 
surprize,  that  though  the  beloved  red  peo[)le  liad  by 
some  means  or  otiier,  lost  the  old  beloved  sj)eech  ;  yet 
Frcnahe  Lakkaue  ooAp'oo,  "the  ugly  yellow  Frencii,"  (as 


■I 


'  ,  • 


'II 


wr^ 


i' 


(  258.  ) 

they  term  the  Mississippians  )  had  by  some  wonderful 
method  obtained  it ;  for  his  own  people,  he  assured  me, 
had  seen  them  at  New  Orleans  to  bring  down  rain  in  a 
very  dry  season,  when  they  were  giving  out  several 
bloody  speeches  to  their  head  warriors  against  the  Eng- 
lish Chikkasah  traders.  On  a  mischievous  politic  invi- 
tation of  the  French,  several  of  the  Chikkasah  had  then 
paid  them  a  visit  in  the  time  of  an  alarming  drought 
and  a  general  fast,  when  they  were  praying  for  season- 
able rains  at  mass.  When  they  came,  the  interpreter 
was  ordered  to  tell  them^  that  the  French  had  holy 
places  and  holy  things,  after  the  manner  of  the  red 
people — that  if  their  young  people  proved  honest,  they 
could  bring  down  rain  whenever  they  stood  in  need  of 
it — and  that  this  was  one  of  the  chief  reasons  which  in- 
duced all  the  various  nations  of  the  beloved  red  people 
to  bear  them  so  intense  a  love ;  and  on  the  contrary,  so 
violent  and  inexpressible  an  hatred  even  to  the  very 
name  of  the  English,  because  every  one  of  them  was 
marked  with  Anumbole  Ookproo,  "  the  curse  of  God. 

The  method  the  Chikkasah  prophet  used  in  relating 
the  affair,  has  some  humour  in  it — for  their  ignorance 
of  the  Christian  religion,  and  institutions,  perplexes 
them  when  they  are  on  the  subject;  on  which  account 
I  shall  literaHy  transcribe  it. 

He  told  nic,  that  the  Chikkasah  warriors  during  three 
successive  days,  accompanied  the  French  Loache  and 
Ishtohoollo  to  the  great  beloved  house,  where  a  large  bell 
hung  ato]),  which  strange  sight  exceedingly  surprized 
them ;  for,  instead  of  being  fit  for  a  horse,  it  ■  mid  re- 
quire a  great  many  ten  horses  to  carry  it.  Around  the 
inside  of  the  beloved  house,  there  was  a  multitude  of  he 
and  she  beloved  people,  or  male  and  female  saints  and 


(  259  ) 


re- 

the 

he 

and 


angels,  whose  living  originals,  they  affirmed,  dwelt  above 
the  clouds,  and  helped  them  to  get  every  good  thing  from 
Ishtohoollo  Aha^  when  they  earnestly  crave  their  help. 
The  French  beloved  men  spoke  a  great  deal  with  much 
warmth  ;  the  rest  were  likewise  busily  employed  in  imi- 
tation of  their  Ishtohoollo  and  Loache.    At  one  time  they 
spoke  high,  at  another  low.    One  chose  this  and  an- 
other that  song.     Here  the  men  kneeled  before  the 
images  of  their  she  beloved  people ;  there  the  women 
did  the  like  before  their  favourite  and  beloved  he-pic- 
tures, entreating  them  for  some  particular  favour  which 
they  stood  in  need  of.    Some  of  them,  he  said,  made 
very  wild  motions  over  their  heads  and  breast;  and 
others  struck  their  stomachs  with  a  vehemence  like  their 
warriors,  when  they  drink  much  Ookka  Homma,  "bitter 
waters,"  or  spiritous  liquor;  while  every  one  of  them 
had  a  bunch  of  mixed  beads,  to  which  they  frequently 
spoke,  as  well  as  counted  over;  that  they  loved  these 
beads,  for  our  people  strictly  observed,  they  did  not  give 
them  to  their  Loache  and  Ishtohoollo,  as  the  red  people 
would  have  done  to  those  of  their  own  country,  though 
it  was  very  plain  they  deserved  them,  for  beating  them- 
selves so  much  for  the  young  people's  roguish  actions ; 
and  likewise  for  labouring  so  strongly  in   ])ulling  off' 
their  clothes,  and  putting  them  on  again,  to  make  the 
beloved  physic  work,  which  they  took  in  small  pieces, 
to  help  to  bring  on  the  rain.    On  the  third  day  (added 
he)  they  brought  it  down  in  great  plenty,  which  was 
certainly  a  very  difficult  performance;  and  an  surprising 
too,  that  they  who  are  always,  when  opportunity  an- 
swers, persuading  the  red  people  to  take  up  the  bloody 
hatchet  against  their  old  steady  friends,  should  still 
have  the  beloved  speech,  which  Ishtohoollo  Aba  Eloa  for- 


i 


(  260  ) 


merly  spoke  to  his  beloved  Loache. 
friendly  discourse. 


Thus  ended  our 


;  t 


Every  spring  season,  one  town  or  more  of  the  Missis- 
sippi Floridians,  keep  a  great  solemn  feast  of  love,  to 
renew  their  old  friendship.  They  call  this  annual  feast, 
Hottuk  Aimpa,  Hecttla,  Tanaa, "  the  people  eat,  dance  and 
walk  as  twined  together."  The  short  name  of  their 
yearly  feast  of  love,  is  Hottuk  Impanaa,  eating  by  a 
strong  religious  or  social  principle;  Impanaa  signifies 
several  threads  or  strands  twisted  or  warped  together. 
Hissoobiatarakshe,  and  Yelphoha  Panaa,  is  "a  twisted 
horse-rope,"  and  "  warped  garter."*  This  is  also  con- 
trary to  the  usage  of  the  old  heathen  world,  whose  festi- 
vals were  in  honour  to  their  chief  Idols,  and  very  often 
accompanied  with  detestable  lewdness  and  debauchery. 

They  assemble  three  nights  previous  to  their  annual 
feast  of  love;  on  the  fourth  night  they  eat  together. 
During  the  intermediate  space,  the  young  men  and 
women  dance  in  circles  from  the  evening  till  morning. 
The  men  masque  their  faces  with  large  pieces  of  gourds 
of  different  shapes  and  hyeroglyphic  paintings.  Some 
of  them  fix  a  pair  of  young  buffido  horns  to  their  head ; 
others  the  tail,  behind.  When  the  dance  and  their  time 
is  expired,  the  men  turn  out  a  hunting,  and  bring  in  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  venison,  for  the  feast  of  renewing 
their  love,  and  confirming  their  friendship  with  each 
other.  The  women  dress  it,  and  bring  the  best  they 
have  along  with  it;  which  a  few  springs  past,  was  only 

*The  name  of  a  horse-rope  is  derived  from  Tarakshe  "to  tie," 
and  Jlissoolxi  "an  elk,  or  liorse  that  carries  a  burthen:"'  which 
suggests  tluvt  they  formerly  saw  elks  carry  burthens,  though  perhaps 
not  in  the  northern  provinces. 


(261  ) 

a  variety  of  Esau's  small  red  acorn  pottage,  as  their 
crops  had  failed.  When  they  have  eaten  together,  they 
fix  in  the  ground  a  large  pole  with  a  bush  tied  at  top, 
over  which  they  throw  a  ball.  Till  the  corn  is  in,  they 
meet  there  almost  every  day,  and  play  for  venison  and 
cakes,  the  men  against  the  women ;  which  the  old  people 
people  say  they  have  observed  for  time  out  of  mind. 


Notwithstanding  the  North  American  Indians,  like 
the  South-Americans,  inter  the  whole  riches  of  the 
deceased  with  him,  and  so  make  his  corpse  and  the 
grave  heirs  of  all,  they  never  give  them  the  least  dis- 
turbance ;  even  a  blood-thirsty  enemy  will  not  despoil 
or  disturb  the  dead.  The  grave  proves  an  asylum,  and 
a  sure  place  of  rest  to  the  sleeping  person,  till  at  some 
certain  time,  according  to  their  opinion,  he  rises  again 
to  inherit  his  favourite  place, — unless  the  covetous,  or 
curious  hand  of  some  foreigner,  should  brake  through 
his  sacred  bounds.  This  custom  of  burying  the  dead 
person's  treasures  with  him,  has  entirely  swallowed  up 
their  medals,  and  other  monuments  of  antiquity,  with- 
out any  probability  of  recovering  them  * 

*  In  the  Tuccabatches  on  the  Tallapoose  river,  thirty  miles  above 
the  Allabaharaah  garrison,  are  two  brazen  tablets,  and  five  of  cop- 
per. They  esteem  them  so  sacred  as  to  keep  them  constantly  in 
their  holy  of  holies,  without  touching  them  in  the  least,  only  in  the 
time  of  their  compounded  first  fruit-offering,  and  annual  expiation 
of  sins;  at  which  season,  their  magus  carries  one  under  his  arm, 
ahead  of  the  people,  dancing  round  the  sacred  arbour;  next  to  him 
their  head-warrior  carries  another;  and  those  warriors  who  chuse  it, 
carry  the  rest  after  the  manner  of  the  high-priest;  all  the  others 
carry  white  canes  with  swan  feathers  at  the  top.  Hearing  accident- 
ally of  these  important  monuments  of  antitjuity,  and  iMKpiiring 
pretty  much  about  them,  I  was  certified  of  the  truth  of  the  report  by 

17 


^ii'l 


1^ 


i/ii 


\  n 


I, 


^^ 


(  262  ) 

The  Cheerake,  notwithstanding  they  have  corrupted 
most  of  their  primitive  customs,  observe  the  law  of 
purity  in  so  strict  a  manner,  as  not  to  touch  the  corpse 
of  their  nearest  relation  although  in  the  woods.  The 
fear  of  pollution  (not  the  want  of  natural  affection,  as 
the  unskilful  observe)  keeps  them  from  burying  their 
dead,  in  our  reputed  unsanctified  ground,  if  any  die  as 
they  are  going  to  Charlestown,  and  returning  home; 
because  they  are  distant  from  their  own  holy  places  and 
holy  things,  where  only  they  could  perform  the  religious 
obsequies  of  their  dead,  and  purify  themselves  accord- 
ing to  law.  An  incident  of  this  kind  happened  several 
years  since,  a  little  below  Ninety-six,  as  well  as  at  the 


r  <i 


four  of  the  southern  traders,  at  the  most  eminent  Indian-trading 
house  of  all  English  America.  One  of  the  gentlemen  informed  me, 
that  at  my  request  he  endeavoured  to  get  a  liberty  of  viewing  the 
aforesaid  tables,  but  it  could  not  possibly  be  obtained,  only  in  the 
time  of  the  yearly  grand  sacrifice,  for  fear  of  polluting  their  holy 
things,  at  which  time  gentlemen  of  curiosity  may  see  them.  Ola 
Bracket,  an  Indian  of  perhaps  100  years  old,  lives  in  that  old  beloved 
town  :  He  said  he  was  told  by  his  forefathers  that  those  plates  were 
given  to  them  by  the  man  we  call  God ;  that  there  had  been  many 
more,  some  as  long  as  he  could  stretch  with  both  his  arms,  and  some 
had  writing  upon  them  which  were  buried  with  particular  men  ;  and 
that  they  had  instructions  given  with  them,  viz.  they  must  only  be 
handled  by  particular  people,  and  those  fasting ;  and  no  unclean 
woman  must  be  suffered  to  come  near  them  or  the  place  where  they 
are  deposited.  He  said,  none  but  this  town's  people  had  any  such 
plates  given  them,  and  that  they  were  a  different  people  from  the 
Creeks.  He  only  remembered  three  more,  which  were  buried  with 
three  of  his  family,  and  he  was  the  only  man  of  the  family  now  lefl. 
He  said,  there  were  two  copperplates  under  the  king's  cabbin,  which 
had  lain  there  from  the  first  settling  of  the  town. 

This  account  was  taken  in  the  Tuccabatcheysquare,  27th  July, 
1759,  per  William  Bolsover. 


IR 


(  263  ) 

Conggarees,  in  South  Carolina: — at  the  former  place, 
the  corpse  by  our  humanity  was  interred ;  but  at  the 
latter,  even  the  twin-born  brother  of  an  Indian  christian 
lady  well  known  by  the  name  of  the  Dark-lanthorn,  left 
her  dead  and  unburied. 

The  conversion  of  this  vara  avis  was  in  the  following 
extraordinary  manner.  There  was  a  gentleman  who 
married  her  according  to  the  manner  of  the  Cheerake ; 
but  observing  that  marriages  were  commonly  of  a  short 
duration  in  that  wanton  female  government,  he  flattered 
himself  of  ingrossing  her  affections,  could  he  be  so 
happy  as  to  get  her  sanctified  by  one  of  our  own  beloved 
men  with  a  large  quantity  of  holy  water  in  baptism — 
and  be  taught  the  conjugal  duty,  by  virtue  of  her  new 
christian  name  when  they  were  married  a  new.  As  she 
was  no  stranger  in  the  English  settlements,  he  soon  per- 
suaded her  to  go  down  to  the  Conggarees,  to  get  the 
beloved  speech,  and  many  fine  things  beside.  As  the 
priest  was  one  of  those  sons  of  wisdom,  the  church  sent 
us  in  her  maternal  benevolence,  l^oth  to  keep  and  draw 
us  from  essential  errors,  he  readily  knew  the  value  of  a 
convert,  and  grasping  at  the  opportunity,  he  changed 
her  from  a  wild  savage  to  a  believing  christian  in  a  trice. 

He  asked  her  a  few  articles  of  her  creed,  which  were 
soon  answered  by  the  bridegroom,  as  interpreter,  from 
some  words  she  spoke  on  a  trifling  question  he  asked 
her.  When  the  priest  proposed  to  her  a  religious  ques- 
tion, the  l)ridegroom,  by  reason  of  their  low  ideas,  and 
the  idiom  of  their  dialects,  was  obliged  to  mention  some 
of  the  virtues,  and  say  he  recommended  to  her  a  very 
strict  chastity  in  the  married  state.  "Very  well,  said 
she,  that  s  a  good  speech,  and  fit  for  every  woman  alike, 
unless  she  is  very  old — but  what  says  he  now?"    The 


.1^ 


1  i. 


T  ■-*'—- 


^^ 


(  264  ) 

interpreter,  after  a  short  pause,  replied,  that  he  was 
urging  her  to  use  a  proper  care  in  domestic  life.  "You 
evil  spirit,  said  she,  when  was  I  wasteful  or  careless,  at 
home?"  He  replied,  "never:"  "Well  then,  said  she, 
tell  him  his  speech  is  troublesome  and  light.  But,  first, 
where  are  those  fine  things  you  promised  me?"  He  bid 
her  be  patient  a  little,  and  she  should  have  plenty  of 
everything  she  liked  best;  at  this  she  smiled.  Now  the 
religious  man  was  fully  confirmed  in  the  hope  of  her 
conversion;  however,  he  asked  if  she  understood,  and 
believed  that  needful  article,  the  doctrine  of  the  trinity. 
The  bridegroom  swore  heartily,  that  if  he  brought  out 
all  the  other  articles  of  his  old  book,  she  both  knew  and 
believed  them,  for  she  was  a  sensible  young  woman. 

The  bridegroom  has  a  very  difficult  part  to  act,  both 
to  please  the  humour  of  his  Venus,  and  to  satisfy  the 
inquisitive  temper  of  our  religious  son  of  Apollo;  he 
behaved  pretty  well  however,  till  he  was  desired  to  ask 
her  belief  of  the  uni-trinity,  and  the  tri-unity  of  the 
Deity ;  which  the  beloved  man  endeavored  to  explain. 
On  this,  she  smartly  asked  him  the  subject  of  their  long 
and  crooked-like  discourse.  But,  as  his  patience  was 
now  exhausted,  instead  of  answering  her  question,  he 
said  with  a  loud  voice,  that  he  believed  the  religious 
man  had  picked  out  all  the  crabbed  parts  of  his  old 
book,  only  to  puzzle  and  stagger  her  young  christian 
faith ;  otherwise  how  could  he  desire  him  to  persuade 
such  a  sharp-discerning  young  woman,  that  one  was 
three,  and  three  one?  Besides,  that  if  his  book  had  any 
such  question,  it  belonged  only  to  the  deep  parts  of 
arithmetic,  in  which  the  very  Indian  beloved  men  were 
untaught.  He  assured  the  priest,  that  the  Indians  did 
not  mind  what  religion  the  women  were  of,  or  whether 


k 


m^ 


(  265  ) 

they  had  any ;  and  that  the  bride  would  take  it  very 
kindly,  if  he  shortened  his  discourse,  as  nothing  can 
disturb  the  Indian  women  so  much  as  long  lectures. 

The  Dark-lanthorn,  (which  was  the  name  of  the  bride) 
became  very  uneasy,  both  by  the  delay  of  time,  and  the 
various  passions  she  attentively  read  in  the  bridegroom's 
face  and  speech,  and  she  asked  him  sharply  the  meaning 
of  such  a  long  discourse.  He  instantly  cried  out,  that 
the  whole  aflair  was  spoiled,  unless  it  was  brought  to  a 
speedy  conclusion :  but  the  religious  man  insisted  upon 
her  belief  of  that  article,  before  he  could  proceed  any 
farther.  But  by  way  of  comfort,  he  assured  him  it  should 
be  the  very  last  question  he  would  propose,  till  he  put 
the  wholly  water  on  her  face,  and  read  over  the  mar- 
riage ceremony.  The  bridegroom  revived  at  this  good 
news,  immediately  sent  the  bowl  around,  with  a  cheer- 
ful countenance ;  which  the  bride  observing,  she  asked 
him  the  reason  of  his  sudden  joyful  looks.  But,  what 
with  the  length  of  the  lecture,  the  close  application  of 
the  bowl,  and  an  over-joy  of  soon  obtaining  his  wishes, 
he  proposed  the  wrong  question ;  for  instead  of  asking 
her  belief  of  the  mysterious  union  of  the  tri-une  Deity, 
he  only  mentioned  the  manly  faculties  of  nature.  The 
bride  smiled,  and  asked  if  the  beloved  man  borrowed 
that  speech  from  his  beloved  marriage  book  ?  Or  whether 
he  was  married,  as  he  was  so  waggish,  and  knowing  in 
those  affairs.  The  priest  imagining  her  cheerful  looks 
proceeded  from  her  swallowing  his  doctrine,  immediately 
called  for  a  bowl  of  water  to  initiate  his  new  convert. 
As  the  bridegroom  could  not  mediate  with  his  usual 
friendly  offices  in  this  affair,  he  persuaded  her  to  let  the 
beloved  man  put  some  beloved  water  on  her  face,  and 
it  would  be  a  sure  pledge  of  a  lasting  friendship  between 


^i 


n 


k 


mff^a^a 


mmmm 


wmm^ 


I 


"  n 


'in 


(  266  ) 

her  and  the  English,  and  intitle  her  to  everything  she 
liked  best.  By  the  persuasive  force  of  his  promises,  she 
consented :  and  had  the  constancy,  though  so  ignorant  a 
novitiate  in  our  sacred  mysteries,  to  go  through  her 
catechism,  and  the  long  marriage  ceremony — although 
it  was  often  interrupted  by  the  bowl.  This  being  over, 
she  proceeded  to  go  to  bed  with  her  partner,  while  the 
beloved  man  sung  a  psalm  at  the  door  concerning  the 
fruitful  vine.  Her  name  he  soon  entered  in  capital  let- 
ters, to  grace  the  first  title-page  of  his  church  book  of 
converts ;  which  he  often  shewed  to  his  English  sheep, 
and  with  much  satisfaction  would  inform  them  how,  by 
the  co-operation  of  the  Deity,  his  earnest  endeavours 
changed  an  Indian  Dark-lanthorn  into  a  lamp  of  Christ- 
ian light.  However,  afterwards  to  his  great  grief,  he  was 
obliged  on  account  of  her  adulteries,  to  erase  her  name 
from  thence,  and  enter  it  anew  in  some  of  the  crowded 
pages  of  female  delinquents. 

When  speaking  to  the  Archimagus  concerning  the  Hot- 
tentots, those  heterogeneous  animals  according  to  the 
Portuguese  and  Dutch  accounts,  he  asked  me,  whether 
they  builded  and  planted — and  what  sort  of  food  they 
chiefly  lived  upon.  I  told  him,  I  was  informed  that 
they  dwelt  in  small  huts,  and  chiefly  lived  on  sheep's 
guts  and  crickets.  He  laughed,  and  said  there  was  no 
credit  to  be  given  to  the  far-distant  writers  of  those 
old  books,  because  they  might  not  have  understood  the 
language  and  customs  of  the  people;  but  that  those 
whom  our  books  reported  to  live  on  such  nasty  food,  (if 
they  did  not  deceive  us  )  might  have  been  forced  to  it  for 
the  want  of  better,  to  keep  them  from  dying;  or  by 
the  like  occasion,  they  might  have  learned  that  ugly 
custom,  and  could  not  quit  it  when  they  were  free  from 


(  267  ) 


want,  as  the  Choktah  eat  horse  flesh,  though  they  have 
plenty  of  venison ;  however  it  was  very  easy,  he  said,  to 
know  whether  they  we;e  possessed  of  human  reason,  for 
if  they  were  endued  with  shame  to  have  a  desire  of  cover- 
ing their  nakedness,  he  concluded  them  to  be  human. 
He  then  asked  me,  whether  I  had  been  informed  of  their 
having  any  sort  of  language,  or  method  of  counting  as 
high  as  the  number  of  their  fingers,  either  by  words  or 
expressive  motion;  or  of  bearing  a  nearer  resemblance 
io  Yawe  the  human  creature,  in  laughter,  than  Shnwethe 
ape  bore ;  or  of  being  more  social  and  gregarious  than 
those  animals  of  the  country  where  they  lived.  If  they 
were  endued  with  those  properties,  he  affirmed  them  to 
be  human  creatures;  and  that  such  old  lying  books 
should  not  be  credited. 


In  the  summer  season  of  the  year  1746, 1  chanced  to 
see  the  Indians  playing  at  a  house  of  the  former  Mis- 
sissippi-Nachee,  on  one  of  their  old  sacred  musical  in- 
struments. It  pretty  m.uch  resembled  the  Negroe- Ban- 
ger in  shape,  but  far  exceeded  it  in  dimensions ;  for  it 
was  about  five  feet  long,  and  a  foot  wide  on  the  head- 
part  of  the  board,  with  eight  strings  made  out  of  the 
sinews  of  a  large  buff'alo.  But  they  were  so  unskilful 
in  acting  the  part  of  the  Lyrick,  that  the  Loache,  or 
prophet  who  held  the  instrument  between  his  feet,  and 
along  side  of  his  chin,  took  one  end  of  the  bow,  whilst  a 
lusty  fellow  held  the  other ;  by  sweating  labour  they 
scraped  out  such  harsh  jarring  sounds,  as  might  have  been 
reasonably  expected  by  a  soft  ear,  to  have  been  sufii- 
cient  to  drive  out  the  devil  if  he  lay  anywhere  hid  in 
the  house.  When  I  afterwards  asked  him  the  name, 
and  the  reason  of  such  a  strange  method  of  diversion, 


il 


w 


'in 


\l 


If 


>,    1 

i 

i  ■ 

J 

RW| 

i 
\ 

E|k| 

■  ii 

Im 

',m 

"u 

wi 

, 

mi^  "' 

Iwti 

(  268  ) 

he  told  me  the  dance  was  called  Keetia  Ishto  Hoollo,  "  a 
dance  to,  or  before  the  great  holy  one;"  that  it  kept  off 
evil  spirits,  witches,  and  wizards  from  the  red  people ; 
and  enabled  them  to  ordain  elderly  men  to  officiate  in 
h^ly  things,  as  the  exigency  of  the  times  required. 

He  who  danced  to  it,  kept  his  })lace  and  posture  in  a 
ver}"^  exact  manner,  without  the  least  perceivable  varia- 
tion ;  yet  by  the  prodigious  working  of  his  muscles  and 
nerves,  he  in  about  half  an  hour  foamed  in  a  very  ex- 
traordinary manner,  and  discontinued  it  proportionally, 
till  he  recovered  himself  This  surprising  custom  I  have 
mentioned  here,  because  it  was  usual  among  the  He- 
brews, for  their  proi.hrts  to  become  furious,  and  as  it 
were  beside  themselves,  when  they  were  about  to  pro- 
phesy. Thus  with  j-egard  to  Saul,  it  seems  that  he  be- 
came furious,  and  tortured  his  body  with  violent  ges- 
tures: and  when  Elisha  sent  one  of  the  children  of  the 
prophets  to  anoint  Jehu,  one  said  to  him,  wherefore 
Cometh  this  mad  fellow?  The  Chaldee  paraphrast,  on 
1  Sam.  xviii.  10.  concerning  Saul's  prophesying,  para- 
phrases it,  ca>pit  furire,  "  he  began  to  grow  mad,  ttc." 


In  the  year  1705,  an  old  physician  or  prophet,  almost 
drunk  with  spirituous  liquors,  came  to  pay  me  a  friendly 
visit:  his  situation  made  him  more  than  he  would  have 
been  if  (juite  sol)er.  When  he  came  to  the  door,  be  bowed 
himself  half  bent,  with  his  arms  extended  north  and 
south,  continuing  so  perhaps  for  the  s})ace  of  a  minute. 
Then  raising  himself  erect  nath  his  arms  in  the  same 
position,  he  loolaxl  in  a  wild  frightful  manner  from  the 
south  west  toward  the  north,  and  sung  on  a  low  bass 
key  Yo  Vo  Yo  Yo,  almost  a  minute,  then  Ifr  He  lie  He, 
for  perhaps  the  same  space  of  time,  and  If  a  Ma  Wa  If  a, 


(  269  ) 


in  like  manner;  and  then  transposed,  and  accented  those 
sacred  notes  several  different  ways,  in  a  most  rapid  gut- 
tural manner.  Now  and  then  he  looked  upwards,  with 
his  head  considerably  bent  backward ;  his  song  continued 
about  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  As  my  door  which  was  then 
open  stood  east,  his  face  of  course  looked  toward  the 
west;  but  whether  the  natives  thus  usually  invoke  the 
deity  I  cannot  determine:  yet  as  all  their  winter  houses 
have  their  doors  toward  the  east,  had  he  used  the  like 
solemn  invocations  there  his  face  would  have  conse- 
quently looked  the  same  way,  contrary  to  the  usage  of 
the  heathens.  After  his  song,  he  stepped  in :  I  saluted 
him,  saying  "Are  you  come  my  beloved  old  friend?"  he 
replied,  ylm/ire-0.  "lam  come  in  the  name  of  Oea." 
I  told  him  I  was  glad  to  see  that  in  this  mad  age,  he 
still  retained  the  old  Chikkasah  virtues.  He  said,  that 
as  he  came  with  a  glad  heart  to  see  me  his  old  friiMid, 
he  imagined  he  C(»uld  not  do  me  a  more  kind  service, 
than  to  secure  my  house  from  the  power  of  tlie  evil 
spirits  of  the  north,  south  and  west — and  from  Avitches 
and  wizards,  who  go  al)0ut  in  dark  nights,  in  the  shape 
of  bears,  hogs,  and  wolves,  to  spoil  people:  ''the  very 
month  before,  added  he,  we  killed  an  old  witch  for  hav- 
ing used  destructive  charms."  Ik^cause  a  child  was  sud- 
denly taken  ill  and  died,  on  the  physician's  false  evi- 
dence, the  father  went  to  the  poor  hel[>less  old  woman 
who  was  sitting  innocent,  and  unsuspecting,  and  sunk 
his  tomahawk  into  her  head,  witliout  the  least  fear  of 
being  called  to  an  account.  They  call  witches  and  wiz- 
ards Is/itohc,  and  Hool/fihe^  "man  killers,  and  spoilers  of 
things  sacred."  My  ])r()phetic  friend  desired  me  to  think 
myself  scn-ure  from  those  dangerous  enemies  of  darkness, 
for  (said  he)  Taroon  JfiJduhoollo-A ntarouare,^' I  have  sung 


I  i, 


!.: 


'  'ill 


i 


:lji.s 


(  270  ) 

the  song  of  the  great  holy  one."  The  Indians  are  so 
tenacious  of  concealing  their  religious  mysteries,  that  I 
never  before  observed  such  an  invocation  on  the  like  oc- 
casion— adjuring  evil  spirits,  witches,  etc.  by  the  awful 
name  of  deity. 


The  Spanish  artists  have  furnished  the  savage  war- 
chieftain,  or  their  Emperor  Montezuma,  with  very 
spacious  and  beautiful  palaces,  one  of  which  they  raised 
on  pillars  of  fine  jasper;  and  another  wrought  with  ex- 
quisite skill  out  of  marble,  jasper,  and  other  valuable 
stones,  with  veins  glistering  like  rubies, — they  have 
finished  the  roof  with  equal  skill,  composed  of  carved 
and  painted  cypress,  cedar  and  pine  trees,  without  any 
kind  of  nails.  They  should  have  furnished  some  of  the 
chambers  with  suitable  pavilions  and  beds  of  state;  but 
the  bedding  and  furniture  in  our  northern  Indian  huts,  is 
the  same  with  what  they  were  pleased  to  describe  in  the 
wonderful  Mexican  palaces.  In  tliis  they  have  not 
done  justice  to  the  grand  red  monarch,  whom  they 
raised  up,  (with  his  1000  women,  or  3000  according  to 
some,)  only  to  magnify  the  Si)anish  power  by  over- 
throwing him. 

Montezuma  in  an  oration  to  his  people,  at  the  arrival 
of  the  Spaniards,  is  said  by  ^Malvendn,  to  have  per- 
suaded his  ])oople  to  yield  to  the  power  of  his  Catholic 
]Majest}  's  arms,  for  their  own  forefathers  were  strangers 
in  that  land,  and  brought  there  long  before  that  period 
in  a  tleet.  The  emi)eror,  Avho  they  pretend  l)ore  such 
universal  arbitrary  sway,  is  raised  by  their  pens,  fron; 
the  usual  rank  of  a  war  chieftain,  to  his  imperial  great- 
ness: But  de8})otie  power  is  death  to  their  ears,  as  it  is 
destructive  of  their  darling  liberty,  and  reputed  theo- 


i:  ' 


it    » 


(  271  ) 

cratic  government;  they  have  no  name  for  a  subject,  but 
say,  "the  people."  In  order  to  carry  on  the  self  flatter- 
ing war  romance,  they  began  the  epocha  of  that  great 
fictitious  empire,  in  the  time  of  the  ambitious  and  form- 
idable Montezuma,  that  their  handful  of  heaven  fav- 
oured popish  saints  might  have  the  more  honour  in 
destroying  it:  had  they  described  it  of  a  long  continu- 
ance, they  foresaw  that  the  world  would  detect  the 
fallacy,  as  soon  as  they  learned  the  language  of  the  pre- 
tended empire;  correspondent  to  which,  our  own  great 
Emperor  Powhatan  of  Virginia,  was  soon  dethroned. 
We  are  sufficiently  informed  by  the  rambling  Miss^is- 
sippi  Indians,  that  Motchshuma  is  a  common  high  war 
name  of  the  South  American  leaders ;  and  which  the 
fate  he  is  said  to  receive,  strongly  corroborates.  Our 
Indians  urge  with  a  great  deal  of  vehemence,  that  as 
every  one  is  promoted  only  by  public  virtue,  and  has 
his  equals  in  civil  and  martial  affairs,  those  Spanish 
books  that  have  mentioned  red  emjjerors,  and  great  em- 
pires in  America,  ought  to  be  l)urnt  in  some  of  the 
remaining  old  years  accursed  fire.  And  this  Indian 
fixed  o})inion  seems  to  be  sufficiently  confirmed  by  the 
situation  of  Mexico,  as  it  is  only  about  ol")  miles  from 
south  to  north;  and  narrower  than  200  miles  along  the 
northern  coast — an-l  lies  between  Thiscala  and  Mechoa- 
chan,  to  the  west  of  the  former,  and  east  of  the  latter, 
whence  the  Mexicans  are  continually  harrassed  Ity  tliose 
lurking  swift-footed  s.vages,  who  could  secure  their 
retreat  home  in  the  space  of  two  or  three  days.  When 
we  consider  the  vicinity  of  those  two  inimical  states  to 
the  pretended  ])uissant  empire  of  Mexico,  whieh  niight 
have  easily  crushed  them  to  pieces,  with  her  tbrmidable 
armies,  in  order  to  secure  the  lives  of  the  subjeets,  and 


If 

m 


i-ti 


w 


5  . 


!,'.! 


(  272  ) 

credit  of  the  state,  we  may  safely  venture  to  affirm,  from 
the  long  train  of  circumstances  already  exhibited,  that 
the  Spanish  Peruvian  and  Mexican  empires  are  without 
the  least  foundation  in  nature;  and  that  the  Spaniards 
defeated  the  tribes  of  Mexico  (properly  called  Mechiko) 
tfec,  chiefl}''  by  the  help  of  their  red  allies. 

In  their  descriptions  of  South  America  and  its  native 
inhabitants,  they  treat  largely  of  heaven,  hell,  and 
purgatory  ;  lions,  salamanders,  maids  of  honour,  maids 
of  penance,  and  their  abl)esses;  men  whii)ping  them- 
selves with  cords;  idols,  mattins,  monastic  vows,  clois- 
ters of  young  men,  with  a  prodigious  group  of  other 
popish  inventions:  and  we  must  not  forget  to  do  justice 
to  those  industrious  and  sagacious  observers,  who  dis- 
covered two  golgothas,  or  towers  made  of  human  skulls 
plaistered  with  lime.  Acosta  tells  us,  that  Andrew 
de  Topia  assured  him,  he  and  Gonsola  de  Vimbria 
reckoned  one  hundred  and  thirty  six  thousand  human 
skulls  in  them.  The  temple  dedicated  to  the  air,  is  like- 
wise worthy  of  being  mentioned,  as  they  assert  in  the 
strongest  manner,  that  five  thousand  priests  served  con- 
stantly in  it,  and  obliged  every  one  who  entered  to 
bring  some  human  sacrifice :  that  the  walls  of  it  were 
an  inch  thick,  and  the  floor  a  foot  deep  with  black,  dry 
clotted  blood.  If  connected  herewith  we  reflect,  that 
beside  this  blood  thirsty  god  of  the  air,  the  Spaniards 
have  rei)resented  them  as  worship))ing  a  multitude  of 
idol  gods  iivd  goddesses,  ^ao  less  than  two  thousand 
according  to  ivop-cz  de  (Jomara)  and  sacrificing  to  them 
chiefly  human  victims;  and  that  the  friars  are  reported 
by  Spanish  bisliop  of  Mexico,  in  his  letters  of  the  year 
1532,  to  have  brokei)  down  twenty  thousand  idols,  and 
desolated  five  hundred  idol  temples,  where  the  natives 


: !  f 


(  273  ) 

sacrificed  every  year  more  than  twenty  thousand  hearts 
of  boys  and  girls;  and  that  if  the  noblemen  were  burnt 
to  ashes,  they  killed  their  cooks,  butlers,  chaplains,  and 
dwarfs-^ — and  had  plenty  of  targets,  maces  and  ensigns 
hurled  into  their  funeral  piles ;  this  terrible  slaughter, 
points  out  to  us  clearly  from  their  own  accounts,  that 
these  authors  either  gave  the  world  a  continued  chain 
of  falsehoods,  or  those  sacrifices  and  human  massacres 
they  boastingly  tell  us  of,  would  have  long  before  they 
came,  utterly  depopulated  Peru  and  Mexico. 

I  shall  now  quote  a  little  of  their  less  romantic  de- 
scription, to  confirm  the  account  I  have  given  concern- 
ing the  genuine  rites  and  customs  of  our  North  Ameri- 
can Indians. 

The  ornaments  of  the  Indians  of  South  and  North 
America  were  formerly  and  still  are  alike,  without  the 
least  difference  except  in  value.  Those  superficial  writers 
agree,  that  the  men  and  women  of  Peru  and  Mexico 
wore  golden  ear-rings  and  bracelets  around  their  necks 
and  wrists ;  that  the  men  wore  rings  of  the  same  metal 
in  their  nose,  marked  their  bodies  with  various  figures, 
painted  their  faces  red,  and  the  Avomen  their  cheeks, 
which  seems  to  have  been  a  very  early  and  general  cus- 
tom. They  tell  us,  that  the  coronation  of  the  Indian 
kings,  and  installment  of  their  nobles,  was  solenmized 
with  comedies,  banquets,  lights,  ttc.  and  that  no  plebe- 
ians were  allowed  to  serve  before  their  kings;  they  must 
be  knights  of  noblemen.  All  those  high  sounding  titles 
are  only  a  confused  picture  of  the  general  method  of  the 

*  With  rt'f^ard  to  Indiiiii  dwurfs,  I  never  heard  of,  or  saw  any  iu 
the  northern  nations,  but  one  in  Ishtatoe,  a  northern  town  of  the 
middle  part  of  the  (Jheerake  country — and  lie  was  a  great  heU)ved 
man. 


i 


I 


m 


m 


(  274  ) 

Indians  in  crowning  their  warriors,  performing  their  war 
dances,  and  esteeming  those  fellows  as  old  women,  who 
never  attended  the  reputed  holy  ark  with  success  for  the 
beloved  brethren. 

Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa  informs  us  that  some  of  the 
South  American  natives  cut  the  lobes  of  their  ears,  and 
for  a  considerable  time  fastened  small  weights  to  them, 
in  order  to  lengthen  them ;  that  others  cut  holes  in  their 
upper  and  under  lips ;  through  the  cartilage  of  their  nose, 
their  chins  and  jaws,  and  either  hung  or  thurst  through 
them,  such  things  as  thoy  most  fancied,  which  also 
agrees  with  the  ancient  customs  of  our  Northern  Indians. 

Emanuel  de  Moraes  and  Acosta  affirm,  that  the  Bra- 
silians  marry  in  their  own  fiimily  or  tribe.  And  Jo.  de 
Laet  says,  they  call  their  uncles  and  aunts,  "  fathers  and 
mothers,"  \vhich  is  a  custom  of  the  Hebrews,  and  of  all 
our  North  American  Indians ;  and  he  assures  us  they 
mourn  very  much  for  their  dead;  and  that  their  clothes 
are  like  those  of  the  early  Jews. 

Ulloa  assures  us,  that  the  South  American  Indians 
have  no  other  method  of  weaving  carpets,  ({nilts,  and 
other  stuffs,  but  to  cor  the  threads  one  by  one,  when 
they  are  passing  tli<-  woof;  that  they  spin  cotton  and 
linen,  as  their  chief  manufacture,  and  paint  their  cloth 
with  the  images  of  men,  beasts,  birds,  fishes,  trees, 
flowers,  c^'C,  and  tLxit  each  of  those  webs  were  adapted 
to  one  certain  use,  without  lieing  cut,  and  that  their 
patience  was  equal  to  so  arduous  a  task.  According  to 
this  description,  there  is  not  the  least  disjjarity  between 
the  ancient  North  American  method  of  manufacturing, 
and  that  of  the  South  Americans. 

Acosta  writes,  that  the  clothes  of  the  South  American 
Indians  are  shaped  like  those  of  the  ancient  Jews,  being 


(  275  ) 

a  square  little  cloak,  and  a  little  coat:  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Thorowgood,  anno  1650,  observes,  that  this  is  a  proof  of 
some  weight  in  shewing  their  original  descent;  especi- 
ally to  such  who  pay  a  deference  to  Seneca's  parallel 
arguments  of  the  Spaniards  having  settled  Italy;  for 
the  old  mode  of  dress  is  universally  alike,  among  the 
Indian  Americans. 

Laet,  in  his  description  of  America,  and  Escarbotus, 
assure  us,  they  often  heard  the  South  American  Indians 
to  repeat  the  sacred  word  Halleluiah^  which  made  them 
admire  how  they  first  attained  it.  And  Malvenda  says, 
that  the  natives  of  St.  Michael  had  tomb  stones,  which 
the  Sjjaniards  digged  up,  with  several  ancient  Hebrew 
characters  upon  them,  as  "  Why  is  God  gone  away?'' 
And,  "He  is  dead,  God  knows."  Had  his  curiosity 
induced  him  to  transcrilje  the  epitaph,  it  would  have 
given  more  satisfaction ;  for  as  j'et  they  repeat  the  divine 
essential  name,  Yo  He  (ta)  Wah,  so  as  not  to  i)rophane 
it,  when  they  mourn  for  their  dead,  it  is  pro])able,  they 
could  write  or  engrave  it,  after  the  like  manner,  when 
they  first  arrived  on  this  main  continent. 

We  are  told,  thrt  the  South  American  Indians  have  a 
firm  hope  of  the  resurrection  of  their  bodies,  at  a  certain 
period  of  time;  and  that  on  this  account  they  bury 
their  most  valuable  treasures  with  their  dead,  as  well  as 
the  most  useful  conveniences  for  future  domestic  life, 
such  as  their  bows  and  arrows.  And  when  they  saw 
the  Spaniards  digging  up  their  graves  for  gold  and  silver, 
they  re(iuested  them  to  forbear  scattering  the  bones  of 
their  dead  in  that  manner,  lest  it  should  prevent  their 
being  raised  and  united  again.* 

*  Vid.  Ceuto  ad  Soliii.  Beuz.  .t  Hist.  Peruv. 


i 


,  Pi 

(I 


(  276  ) 

Monsieur  de  Poutrincourt  says,  that  when  the  Canada 
Indians  saluted  him,  they  said  Ho  Ho  Ho;  but  as  we  are 
well  assured,  they  express  Yo  He  a  Ah,  in  the  time  of 
their  festivals  and  other  rejoicings,  we  liave  reason  to 
conclude  he  made  a  very  material  mistake  in  setting 
down  the  Indian  solemn  blessing,  or  invocation.  He 
likewise  tells  us,  that  the  Indian  women  will  not  marry 
on  the  graves  of  their  husbands,  i.  e.  "soon  after  their 
decease;"  but  wait  a  long  time  before  they  even  think 
of  a  second  husband.  That  if  the  husband  was  killed, 
they  would  neither  enter  into  a  second  marriage  nor  eat 
flesh,  till  his  blood  had  been  revenged;  and  that  after 
child-bearing,  they  observe  the  Mosaic  law  of  purifica- 
tion, shutting  up  themselves  from  their  husbands  for 
the  space  of  forty  days. 

Peter  Martyr  writes,  that  the  Indian  widow  married 
the  brother  of  her  deceased  husband,  according  to  the 
Mosaic  law;  and  he  says,  the  Indians  worship  that  God 
who  created  the  sun,  moon  and  all  invisible  things,  and 
who  gives  them  everything  that  is  good.  He  affirms 
the  Indian  priests  had  chambers  in  the  temple,  accord- 
cording  to  the  custom  of  the  Israelites,  by  divine  ap- 
pointment, as  1  Chron.  ix.  26,  27.  And  that  there  were 
certain  places  in  it,  which  none  but  their  priests  could 
enter,  i.  e.  "the  holiest."  And  Key  says  also,  that  they 
have  in  some  parts  of  America,  an  exact  form  of  king, 
priest,  and  prophet,  as  Wiis  formerly  in  Caanan. 

Robert  Williams,  the  first  Englishman  in  New  Eng- 
land, who  is  said  to  have  learned  the  Indian  language, 
in  order  to  convert  the  natives,  believed  them  to  be  Jews ; 
and  he  assures  us,  that  their  tradition  records  that  their 
ancestors  came  from  the  south  west,  and  that  they  re- 
turn there  at  death ;  that  their  women  separate  them- 


(  277  ) 


selves  from  the  rest  of  the  people  at  certain  periods ;  and 
that  their  language  bore  some  affinity  to  the  Hebrew. 

Baron  Lahonton  writes,  that  the  Indian  women  of 
Canada  purify  tliemselvc^s  after  travail:  thirty  days  for 
a  male  child — and  forty  for  a  female :  that  during  the 
said  time,  they  live  apart  from  their  husband — tliat  the 
unmarried  ])rother  of  the  dectaaed  liusband  marries  the 
widow,  six  months  after  his  decease;  and  that  the  out- 
standing parties  for  war,  address  the  great  spirit  every 
day  till  they  set  oft",  with  sacrifices,  songs  and  feasting. 

We  are  also  told,  that  the  men  in  Mexico  sat  down, 
and  the  women  stood,  when  th(  made  water,  which  is 
an  universal  custom  among  our  North  American  In- 
dians. Their  primitive  modest}',  and  indulgence  to  their 
women,  seem  to  have  introduced  this  singular  custom, 
after  the  manner  of  the  ancient  Mauritanians,  on  ac- 
count of  their  scantiness  of  cloathing,  as  I  formerly  ob- 
served. 

Lerius  tolls  us,  that  the  Indians  of  Brasil  wash  them- 
selves ten  times  a  day ;  and  that  the  husbands  have  no 
matrimonial  intercourse  with  their  wives,  till  their  child- 
ren are  either  weaned  or  grown  pretty  hardy:  which  is 
similar  to  the  custom  of  these  northern  Indians,  and 
that  of  tlio  Israelites,  as  Hos.  i.  8.  He  says,  if  a  Peru- 
vian child  was  weaned  before  its  time,  it  was  called 
Ainsco,  "a  bastard."  And  that  if  a  Brasilian  wounds 
another,  he  is  wounded  in  the  same  i)art  of  the  body, 
with  e(iual  punishment;  limb  for  limb,  or  life  for  life, 
according  to  the  Mosaic  law  ;  which,  within  our  memory, 
these  Indian  nations  observed  so  eagerly,  that  if  a  boy 
shooting  at  birds,  aceidently  wounded  another,  though 
out  of  sight,  with  his  arrow  ever  so  slightly,  he  or  any 
of  his  family,  wounded  him  after  the  very  same  man- 
18 


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(1  ' 


(   278  ) 

ner;  which  is  a  very  striking  analogy  with  the  Jewish 
retaliation.  He  likewise  tells  us,  that  their  Sachems  or 
emperors,  were  the  heads  of  their  church  :  and  accord- 
ing to  Liuet.  Descript.  America,  the  Peruvians  had  but 
one  temple  consecrated  to  the  creator  of  the  world ;  be- 
sides four  other  religious  places,  in  resemblance  of  the 
Jewish  synagogues.  And  Malvenda  says,  the  American 
idols  were  mitred  as  Aaron  was.  He  likewise  affirms, 
as  doth  Acosta,  that  the  natives  observed  a  year  of 
jubilee,  according  to  the  usage  of  the  Israelites. 

Benzo  says,  that  the  men  and  women  incline  very 
much  to  dancing;  and  the  women  often  by  themselves 
according  to  the  manner  of  the  Hebrew  nation;  as  in 
1  Sam.  xxi.  11.  especially  after  gaining  a  victory  over  the 
€nemy,  as  in  Judg.  xi.  34-xxi.  21,  23,  and  1  Sam.  xviii. 
iS,  7.  Acosta  tells  us,  that  though  adultry  is  deemed  by 
them  a  capital  crime,  yet  they  at  the  same  time  set  little 
value  by  virginity,  and  it  seems  to  have  been  a  bewail- 
able  condition,  in  Judea.  He  likewise  says,  they  wash 
their  new  born  infants,  in  resemblance  of  the  Mosaic 
law ;  as  Ezek.  xvi.  9.  And  the  Spaniards  say,  that  the 
priests  of  Mexico,  were  anointed  from  head  to  foot;  that 
they  constantly  wore  their  hair,  till  they  were  superan- 
nuated; and  that  the  husband  did  not  lie  with  his  wife 
for  two  years  after  she  was  delivered.  Our  northern 
Indians  imitate  the  first  custom  ;  though  in  the  second 
they  resemble  that  of  the  heathen  l)y  polling  or  trim- 
ming their  hair;  and  with  regard  to  the  third,  they 
always  sleej)  apart  from  their  wives  for  the  greater  part 
of  the  year  after  delivery. 

By  the  Spanish  authorities,  the  Peruvians  and  Mexi- 
cans were  Polygamists,  but  they  had  one  principal  wife, 
to  whom  they  were  married  with  certain  solemnities; 


.{ 


(  279  ) 


and  murder,  adultery,  theft,  and  incest,  were  punished 
with  death.  But  there  was  an  exception  in  some  i)laces, 
with  regard  to  incestuous  intercourses;  which  is  intirely 
consonant  to  the  usage  of  the  northern  Indians.  For  as 
to  incest,  the  Cheerake  marry  })oth  mother  and  daugh- 
ter, or  two  sisters ;  but  they  all  observe  the  prohibited 
laws  of  consanguinity,  in  the  strictest  manner.  They 
tell  us,  that  when  the  i)riesis  ofiered  sacrifice,  they  ab- 
stained from  women  and  strong  drink,  and  fasted  several 
days  before  any  great  festival;  that  all  of  them  buried 
their  dead  in  their  houses,  or  in  high  places;  that  when 
they  were  forced  to  bury  in  any  of  the  Spanish  church 
yards,  they  frequently  stole  the  corpse,  and  interred  it 
either  in  one  of  their  own  houses  or  in  the  mountains ; 
and  that  Juan  de  le  Torre  took  five  hundred  thousand 
Pezoes  out  of  one  tomb.  Here  is  a  long  train  of  Israel- 
itish  customs;  and  if  we  include  the  whole,  they  ex- 
hibit a  very  strong  analogy  l)etween  all  the  essential 
traditions,  rites,  customs,  ttc.  of  the  South  and  North 
American  Indians :  though  the  Spaniards  mix  an  innu- 
merable heap  of  absurd  chimeras,  and  romantic  dreams, 
with  the  plain  material  truths  I  have  extracted. 


The  South  American  natives  wanted  nothing  that 
could  render  life  easy  and  agreeable;  and  they  had 
nothing  superllous,  except  gold  and  silver.  When  we 
consider  the  simplicity  of  the  people,  and  the  skill  they 
had  in  collecting  a  prodigious  (|uantity  of  treasures,  it 
seems  as  if  they  gained  that  skill  from  their  country- 
men, and  the  Tyrians ;  who  in  the  reign  of  Solomon 
exceedingly  enriched  themselves  in  a  few  voyages.  The 
conjecture  that  the  aborigines  wandered  here  from  cap- 
tivity by  the  north  east  parts  of  Asia,  over  Kanischatska, 


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(  280  ) 

to  have  their  liberty  and  religion ;  is  not  so  improbable 
as  that  of  their  being  driven  by  stress  of  weather  into 
the  bay  of  Mexico,  from  the  east. 

Though  a  single  argument  of  the  general  subject,  may 
prove  but  little  disjoined  from  the  rest;  yet  according 
to  the  true  laws  of  history,  and  the  best  rules  for  tracing 
antiquities,  the  conclusion  is  to  be  drawn  frdhi  clear 
corresponding  circumstances  united;  the  force  of  one 
branch  of  the  subject  ought  to  be  connected  with  the 
others,  and  then  judge  by  the  whole.  Such  readers  as 
may  differ  from  my  opinion  of  the  Indian  American 
origin  and  descent,  ought  to  inform  us  how  the  natives 
came  here,  and  by  what  means  they  formed  the  long 
chain  of  rites,  customs,  I'^'c.  so  similar  to  the  usage  of  the 
Hebrew  nation,  and  in  general  dissimilar  to  the  modes, 
&c.  of  the  Pagan  world. 

Ancient  writers  do  not  agree  u\nm  any  certain  place 
where  the  Ophir  of  Solomon  lay  ;  it  must  certainly  be  a 
great  distancv;  from  Joppa,  for  it  was  a  three  years  voy- 
age. After  the  death  of  Solomon  both  the  Israelites  and 
Tyrians  seem  to  have  utterly  discontinued  their  trading 
voyages  to  that  part  of  the  world.  Eusebius  and  Eupo- 
lemus  say,  that  David  sent  to  Urphe,  an  island  in  the 
red  sea,  and  brought  much  gold  into  Judea;  and  Ortel- 
ius  reckons  this  to  have  been  Ophir ;  though  agreeably 
to  the  opinion  of  the  greater  part  of  the  modern  literati, 
he  also  conjectures  Cephala  or  Sophala,  to  have  been 
the  Ophir  of  Solomon.  Junius  imagines  it  was  in  Aurea 
Chersonesus ;  Tremellius  and  Niger  are  of  the  same  opin- 
ion. But  VatabluH  reckons  it  was  Hispaniohi,  discovered 
and  named  so  by  Columbus;  yet  i'ostellus,  Mornay, 
Arias  Montanus,  and  Goropius,  are  of  the  opinion  that 
Peru  is  the  ancient  Ophir;  so  widely  different  are  their 


(  281  ) 

conjectures.  Ancient  history  is  quite  silent  concerning 
America;  which  indicates  that  it  has  been  time  im- 
memorial rent  assunder  from  the  African  continent  ac- 
cording to  Plato's  Timeus.  The  north  east  parts  of  Asia 
alwo  were  undiscovered  till  of  late.  Many  geographers 
have  stretched  Asia  and  America  so  far  as  to  join  them 
together  and  others  have  divided  those  two  quarters  of 
the  globe,  at  a  great  distance  from  each  other.  But  the 
Russians,  after  several  dangerous  attempts,  have  clearly 
convinced  the  world  that  they  are  now  divided,  and  yet 
have  a  near  communication  together,  by  a  narrow  strait, 
in  which  several  islands  are  situated ;  through  which 
there  is  an  easy  passage  from  the  north  east  of  Asia  to 
the  north  west  of  America,  by  the  way  of  Kamschatska; 
which  probably  joined  tothe  north  west  point  of  America. 
By  this  passage  supposing  the  main  continents  were  sepa- 
rated it  was  very  practicable  fortheinhal)itantstogo  to  this 
extensive  new  world ;  and  afterwards,  to  have  proceeded  in 
quest  of  suitable  climates — according  tothe  law  of  nature, 
that  directs  every  creature  to  such  climes  as  are  most  con- 
venient and  agreeable. 


As  the  Cheerake  began  to  have  goods  at  an  under 
price,  it  tempted  them  to  be  both  proud  and  lazy.  Their 
women  are  now  far  above  taking  the  trouble  to  raise 
hogs  for  the  ugly  white  people,  as  the  beautiful  red 
heroes  })roudly  term  them.  If  any  do — they  are  forced 
to  feed  them  in  small  penns,  through  all  the  crop-season, 
and  chiefly  on  long  pursly,  and  other  wholesome  weeds, 
that  their  rich  fields  abound  with.  But  at  the  fall  of 
the  leaf,  the  woods  are  full  of  hiccory-nuts,  acorns,  ches- 
nuts,  and  the  like;  which  occasions  the  Indian  bacon  to 
be  more  streaked,  firm,  and  better  tasted,  than  any  we 


(  282  ) 


i'  ' 


meet  with  in  the  English  settlements.  Some  of  the 
natives  are  grown  fond  of  horned  cattle,  both  in  the 
Cheerake  and  Muskohge  countries,  but  most  decline 
them,  because  the  fields  are  not  regularly  fenced.  But 
almost  every  one  hath  horses,  from  two  to  a  dozen; 
which  makes  a  considerable  number,  through  their  var- 
ious nations.  The  Cheerake  had  a  prodigious  number 
of  excellent  horses,  at  the  beginning  of  their  late  war 
with  us;  but  pinching  hunger  forced  them  to  eat  the 
greatest  part  of  them,  in  the  time  of  that  unfortunate 
event.  But  as  all  are  now  become  very  active  and  soci- 
able, they  will  soon  supply  themselves  with  plenty  of 
the  best  from  our  settlements — they  are  skilful  jockies, 
and  nice  in  their  choice. 

From  the  head  of  the  southern  branch  of  Savannah 
river,  it  does  not  exceed  half  a  mile  to  a  head  spring  of 
the  Mississippi  water,  that  runs  through  the  middle  and 
upper  parts  of  the  Cheerake  nation,  about  a  north-west 
course,  and  joining  other  riverc",  they  empty  themselves 
into  the  great  Mississippi.  The  above  fountain  is  called 
"Herbert's  spring:  "*  and  it  was  natural  for  strangers  to 
drink  thereof,  to  quench  thirst,  gratify  their  curiosity, 
and  have  it  to  say  they  had  drank  of  the  French  waters. 
Some  of  our  people,  who  went  only  with  the  view  of 
staying  a  short  time,  but  by  some  allurement  or  other, 
exceeded  the  time  appointed,  at  their  return,  reported 
either  through  merriment  or  superstition,  that  the  spring 
had  such  a  natural  bewitching  quality,  that  whosoever 
drank  of  it,  could  not  possibly  quit  the  nation,  during 
the  tedious  space  of  seven  years.  All  the  debauchees 
readily  fell  in  with  this  superstitious  notion,  as  an  excuse 


*So  named  from  an  early  commissioner  of  Indian  afTuirs. 


(  283  ) 

for  their  bad  method  of  living,  when  they  had  no  proper 
call  to  stay  in  that  country ;  and  in  process  of  time,  it 
became  as  received  a  truth,  as  any  ever  believed  to  have 
been  spoken  b}'  the  delphio  oracle.  One  cursed,  because 
its  enchantments  had  marred  his  good  fortune;  another 
condemned  his  weakness  for  drinking  down  witchcraft, 
against  his  own  secret  suspicions;  one  swore  he  would 
never  taste  again  such  known  dangerous  poison,  even 
though  he  should  be  forced  to  go  down  to  the  Mississippi 
for  water;  and  another  comforted  himself, that  so  many 
years  out  of  the  seven  were  already  passed,  and  wished 
that  if  he  ever  tasted  it  again,  though  under  the  greatest 
necessity,  he  might  be  confined  to  the  stygian  waters. 
Those  who  had  their  minds  more  enlarged,  diverted 
themselves  much  at  their  cost,  for  it  was  a  noted  favorite 
place,  on  account  of  the  name  it  went  by ;  and  being  a 
well  situated  and  good  spring,  there  all  travellers  com- 
monly drank  a  bottle  of  choice:  But  nov,  most  of  the 
packliorse-men,  though  they  be  dry,  and  also  matchless 
sons  of  Bacchus,  on  the  most  pressing  invitations  to 
drink  there,  would  swear  to  forfeit  sacred  li«iuor  the 
better  part  of  their  lives,  rather  than  basely  renew,  or 
confirm  the  loss  of  their  libertv,  Avhich  tliat  execrable 
fountain  occasions. 


Within  twenty  miles  of  the  late  Fort  Loudon,  there 
is  great  plenty  of  whet-stones  for  razors,  of  red,  white, 
and  black  colours.  The  silver  mines  are  so  rich,  that  by 
digging  about  ten  yards  deep,  some  desperate  vagrants 
found  at  sundry  times,  so  much  rich  ore,  as  to  enable 
them  to  counterfeit  dollars,  to  a  great  amount;  a  horse 
load  of  which  was  detected  in  i)as8ing  for  the  purchase 
of  negroes,  at  Augusta,  which  stands  on  the  south  side 


•     (284) 

of  the  meandering  beautiful  Savanah  river,  half-way 
from  the  Cheerake  countr}^  to  Savanah,  the  capital  of 
Georgia.  The  load-stone  is  likewise  found  there,  but 
they  have  no  skill  in  searching  for  it,  only  on  the  surface ; 
a  great  deal  of  the  magnetic  power  is  lost,  as  being  ex- 
posed to  the  various  changes  of  the  weather,  and  frequent 
firing  of  the  woods.  I  was  told  by  a  trader,  who  lives 
in  the  upper  parts  of  the  Cheerake  country,  which  is 
surrounded  on  every  side,  ])y  prodigious  i)iles  of  mount- 
ains called  Cheeowhee,  that  within  about  a  mile  of  the 
town  of  that  name,  there  is  a  hill  with  a  great  plenty  of 
load-stones — the  truth  of  this  any  gentleman  of  curiosity 
may  soon  ascertain,  as  it  lies  on  the  northern  path  that 
leads  from  South  Carolina,  to  the  remains  of  Fort  Lou- 
don; and  while  he  is  in  search  of  this,  he  may  at  the 
same  time  make  a  great  acquest  of  riches,  for  the  load- 
stone is  known  to  accompany  rich  metals.  I  was  once 
near  that  load-stone  hill,  but  the  heavy  rains  which  at 
that  time  foil  on  the  deep  snow,  prevented  the  gratifying 
my  curiosity,  as  the  boggy  deep  creek,  was  thereby  ren- 
dered impassible. 

In  this  rocky  country,  are  found  a  great  many  beau- 
tiful, clear,  chrystaline  stones,  formed  by  nature  into 
several  angles,  which  commonly  meet  in  one  point: 
several  of  them  are  transparent,  like  a  coarse  diamond — 
others  resemble  the  onyx,  being  engender  of  ])lack  and 
thick  humours,  as  we  see  water  that  is  tincturcv^  with 
ink,  still  keeping  its  surface  clear.  I  found  one  stone 
like  a  ruby,  as  big  as  the  top  of  a  man's  thumb,  with  a 
beautiful  dark  shade  in  the  middle  of  it.  Many  stones 
of  various  colours,  and  beautiful  lustre  may  be  collected 
on  the  tops  of  those  hills  and  mountains,  which  if  skil- 
fully managed,  would  be  very  valuable,  for  some  of 


(  285  ) 

them  are  clear,  and  very  hard.  From  which,  we  may 
rationally  conjecture  that  a  quantity  of  subterranean 
treasures  is  contained  there;  the  Spaniards  generally 
found  out  their  southern  mines,  by  such  superficial  in- 
dications. And  it  would  be  an  useful  and  profitable 
service  for  skilful  artists  to  engage  in,  as  the  present 
trading  white  savages  are  utterly  ignorant  of  it.  Mani- 
fold curious  works  of  the  wise  author  of  nature,  are 
bountifully  dispersed  through  the  whole  of  the  country? 
obvious  to  every  curious  eye. 


1  of 


I  remember,  in  Tymasc,  one  of  their  towns,  about  ten 
miles  above  the  present  Fort  Prince-George,  a  great  head 
warrior,  who  murdered  a  white  man  thirty  miles  below 
Cheeowhee,  as  was  proved  by  the  branded  deer-skins  he 
produced  afterward — when  he  saw  himself  disfigured 
by  the  small  pox,  he  chose  to  die,  that  he  might  end  as 
he  imagined  his  shame.  When  his  relations  knew  his 
desperate  design,  they  narrowly  watched  him,  and  took 
away  every  sharp  instrument  from  him.  When  he 
found  he  was  balked  in  his  intention,  he  fretted  and 
said  the  worst  things  their  language  could  express,  and 
shewed  all  the  symptoms  of  a  desperate  person  enraged 
at  his  disappointment,  and  forced  to  live  and  see  his 
ignominy;  he  then  darted  himself  against  the  wall, 
with  all  his  remaining  vigour, — his  strength  being  ex- 
pended by  the  force  of  his  friends  opposition,  ^e  fell 
sullenly  on  the  bed,  as  if  by  those  violent  struggles  lie 
was  overcome,  and  wanted  to  repose  liiniself.  His  rela- 
tions through  tenderness,  left  him  to  his  rest — but  as 
soon  as  they  went  away,  he  raised  himself,  and  after  a 
tedious  search,  finding  nothing  but  a  thick  and  round  hoe- 
helve,  he  took  the  fatal  instrument,  and  having  fixed 


■■■■ 


(  286  ) 

one  end  of  it  in  the  ground,  he  repeatedly  threw  himself 
on  it,  till  he  forced  it  down  his  throat,  when  he  imme- 
diately expired.  He  was  buried  in  silence  without  the 
least  mourning. 

In  the  year  1736,  the  French  sent  into  South  Carolina, 
one  Priber,  a  gentleman  of  a  curious  and  a  speculative 
temper.  He  was  to  transmit  them  a  full  account  of  that 
country,  and  proceeded  to  the  Cheerake  nation,  in  order 
to  seduce  them  from  the  British  to  the  French  interest. 
He  went,  and  though  he  was  adorned  with  every  quali- 
fication that  constitutes  the  gentleman,  soon  after  he  ar- 
rived at  the  upper  towns  of  this  mountainous  country, 
he  exchanged  his  clothes  and  everything  he  brought 
with  him,  and  by  that  means,  made  friends  with  the 
head  warriors  of  the  great  Telliko,  which  stood  on  a 
branch  of  the  Mississippi.  More  effectually  to  answer 
the  design  of  his  commission,  he  ate,  drank,  slept,  danced, 
dressed,  and  painted  himself,  with  the  Indians,  so  that 
it  was  not  easy  to  distinguish  nim  from  the  natives, — he 
married  also  with  them,  and  being  endued  with  a  strong 
understanding  and  retentive  memory,  he  soon  learned 
their  dialect,  and  by  gradual  advances,  impressed  them 
with  a  very  ill  opinion  of  the  English,  representing  them 
as  a  fraudulent,  avaricious,  and  encroaching  people :  he 
at  the  same  time,  intlated  the  artless  savages,  with  a 
prodigious  high  opinion  of  their  importance  in  the 
American  scale  of  power,  on  account  of  the  situation  of 
their  country,  their  martial  disposition,  and  the  great 
number  of  their  warriors,  which  would  baffle  all  the  ef- 
forts of  the  ambitious  and  ill-designing  British  colonists. 
Having  thus  infected  them  by  his  smooth  deluding  art, 
he  easily  formed  them  into  a  nominal  republican  gov- 


(  287  ) 

ernment — crowned  their  old  Archi-majrus  emperor,  after 
a  pleasing  new  savage  form,  and  invented  a  variety  of 
high-sounding  titles  for  all  the  members  of  his  imperial 
majesty's  red  court,  and  the  great  officers  of  state ;  which 
the  emperor  conferred  upon  them,  in  a  manner  accord- 
ing to  their  merit.  He  himself  received  the  honourable 
title  of  his  imperial  majesty's  principal  secretary  of  state, 
and  as  such  he  subscribed  himself  in  all  the  letters  he 
wrote  to  our  government,  and  lived  in  open  defiance  of 
them.  This  seemed  to  be  of  so  dangerous  a  tendency, 
as  to  induce  South  Carolina  to  send  up  a  commissioner. 
Col.  F — X,  to  demand  liim  as  an  enemy  to  the  public 
repose — who  took  him  into  custody,  in  the  great  square 
of  their  state  house:  when  he  had  almost  concluded  his 
oration  on  the  occasion,  one  of  the  head  warriors  rose 
up,  and  bade  him  forbear,  as  the  man  he  intended  to 
enslave,  was  made  a  great  beloved  man,  and  became  one 
of  theirown  people.  Though  it  was  reckoned  our  agent's 
strength  was  far  greater  in  his  arms  than  his  head,  he 
readily  desisted — for  as  it  is  too  hard  to  struggle  with 
the  pope  in  Rome,  a  stranger  could  not  miss  to  find  it 
equally  difficult  to  enter  abruptly  into  a  new  emperor's 
court,  and  there  seize  his  prime  minister,  by  a  foreign 
authority ;  especially  when  he  could  not  support  any 
charge  of  guilt  against  him.  The  warrior  told  him,  that 
the  red  people  well  knew  the  honesty  of  the  secretary's 
heart  would  not  suffer  him  to  tell  a  lie;  and  the  secre- 
tary urged  that  he  was  a  foreigner,  without  owing  any 
allegiance  to  Great  Britain, — that  he  only  travelled 
through  some  places  of  their  country  in  u  peaceable 
manner,  paying  for  everything  he  had  of  them ;  that  in 
compliance  with  the  request  of  the  kindly  French,  as 
well  as  from  his  own  tender  feelings  for  the  poverty  and 


(  288  ) 


insecure  state  of  the  Cheerake,  he  came  a  great  way,  and 
lived  among  them  as  a  brother,  only  to  preserve  their 
liberties  by  opening  a  water  communication  between 
them  and  New  Orleans ;  that  the  distance  of  the  two 
places  from  each  other,  proved  his  motive  to  be  the  love 
of  doing  good,  especially  as  he  was  to  go  there  and  ])ring 
up  a  sufficient  number  of  Frenchmen  of  proper  skill  to 
instruct  them  in  the  art  of  making  gunpowder,  the 
materials  of  which,  lie  affirmed  their  lands  abounded 
with.  He  concluded  his  artful  speech  by  urging  that 
the  tyrannical  design  of  the  English  commissioner  to- 
ward him,  appeared  plainly  to  be  leveled  against  them, 
because,  as  he  was  not  accused  of  having  done  any  ill 
to  the  English,  before  he  came  to  the  Cheerake,  his  crime 
must  consist  in  loving  the  Cheerake.  And  as  that  was 
reckoned  so  heinous  a  transgression  in  the  eyes  of  the 
English,  as  to  send  one  of  their  angry  beloved  men  to 
enslave  him,  it  confirmed  all  those  honest  speeches  he 
had  often  spoken  to  the  present  great  v.'ar-chieftains, 
old  beloved  men,  and  warriors  of  each  class. 

An  old  war-leader  repeated  to  the  commissioner,  the 
essential  part  of  this  speech,  and  added  more  of  his  own 
similar  thereto.  He  bade  him  to  inform  his  superiors, 
that  the  Cheerake  were  as  desirous  as  the  English  to 
continue  a  friendly  union  with  each  other,  as  "  freemen 
and  equals."  That  they  hoped  to  receive  no  farther 
uneasiness  from  them,  for  consulting  their  own  interests, 
as  their  reason  dictated.  And  they  earnestly  requested 
them  to  send  no  more  of  those  bad  papers  to  their  coun- 
try, on  any  account;  nor  to  reckon  them  so  base,  as  to 
allow  any  of  their  honest  friends  to  be  taken  out  of  their 
arms,  and  carried  into  slavery.  The  English  beloved 
man  had  the  honour  of  receiving  his  leave  of  absence, 


(  289  ) 


and  a  sufficient  passport  of  safe  conduct,  from  the  im- 
perial red  court,  by  a  verbal  order  of  the  secretary  of 
state,  who  was  so  polite  as  to  wish  him  well  home,  and 
ordered  a  convoy  of  his  own  life-guards,  who  conducted 
him  a  considerable  way,  and  he  got  safe  home. 

From  the  above  it  is  evident,  that  the  monopolizing 
spirit  of  the  French  had  planned  their  dangerous  lines 
of  circumvallation,  respecting  our  envied  colonies,  as 
early  as  the  before-mentioned  period.  Their  choice  of 
the  man,  bespeaks  also  their  judgment.  Though  the 
philosophic  secretary  was  an  utter  stranger  to  the  wild 
and  mountainous  Cheerake  country,  as  well  as  to  their 
language,  yet  his  sagacity  readily  directed  him  to  chuse 
a  proper  place,  and  an  old  favourite  religious  man,  for 
the  new  red  empire;  which  he  formed  by  slow  but  sure 
degrees,  to  the  great  danger  of  our  southern  colonies. 
But  the  empire  received  a  very  great  shock,  in  an  acci- 
dent that  befel  the  secretary,  when  it  was  on  the  point 
of  rising  into  a  far  greater  state  of  puissance,  by  the 
acquisition  of  the  Muskohge,  Choktah,  and  tlie  western 
Mississippi  Indians.  In  the  fifth  year  of  that  red  im- 
perial era,  he  set  off  for  Mobille,  accompanied  by  a  few 
Cheerake.  He  proceeded  by  land,  as  far  as  a  navigable 
part  of  the  western  great  river  of  the  Muskohge  ;  there 
he  went  into  a  canoe  prepared  for  the  joyful  occasion, 
and  proceeded  within  a  day's  journey  of  Alebahma  gar- 
rison— conjecturing  the  adjacent  towns  were  under  the 
French,  he  landed  at  Tallapoose  town,  and  lodged  there 
all  night.  The  traders  of  the  neighbouring  towns  soon 
went  there,  convinced  the  inhabitants  of  the  dangerous 
tendency  of  his  unwearied  labours  among  the  Cheerake, 
and  of  his  present  journey,  and  then  took  him  into 
custody,  with  a  large  bundle  of  manuscripts,  and  sent 


M 


(  290  ) 


fi 


him  down  to  Frederica  in  Georgia;  the  governor  com- 
mitted him  to  a  place  of  confinement,  though  not  with 
common  felons,  as  he  was  a  foreigner,  and  was  said  to 
have  held  a  place  of  considerable  rank  in  the  army  with 
great  honour.  Soon  after,  the  magazine  took  fire,  which 
was  not  far  from  where  he  was  confined,  and  though  the 
centinels  bade  him  make  ofT  to  a  place  of  safety,  as  all 
the  people  were  running  to  avoid  danger  from  the  ex- 
plosion of  the  powder  and  shells,  he  squatted  on  his 
belly  upon  the  lioor,  and  continued  in  that  position 
without  the  least  hurt:  several  blamed  his  rashness, 
but  he  told  them  that  experience  had  convinced  him 
it  was  the  most  probable  means  to  avoid  imminent 
danger.  This  incident  displayed  the  philosopher  and 
soldier,  and  after  bearing  his  misfortunes  a  considerable 
time  with  great  constancy,  happily  for  us  he  died  in 
confinement, — though  he  deserved  a  much  better  fate. 
In  the  first  year  of  his  secretaryship  I  maintained  a 
correspondence  with  him ;  but  the  Indians  becoming 
very  inquisitive  to  know  the  contents  of  our  marked 
large  papers,  and  he  suspecting  his  memory  might  fail 
him  in  telling  those  cunning  sifters  of  truth,  a  plausible 
story,  and  of  being  able  to  repeat  it  often  to  them,  with- 
out any  variation, — he  took  the  shortest  and  safest 
method  by  telling  them  that,  in  the  very  same  manner 
as  he  was  their  great  secretary.  I  was  the  devil's  clerk, 
or  an  accursed  one  who  marked  on  paper  the  bad 
speech  of  the  evil  ones  of  darkness.  Accordingly,  they 
forbad  him  writing  any  more  to  such  an  accursed  one, 
or  receiving  any  of  his  evil-marked  papers,  and  our  cor- 
respondence ceased.  As  he  was  learned,  and  possessed 
of  a  very  sagacious  and  penetrating  judgment,  and  had 
every  qualification  that  was  requisite  for  his  bold  and 


(  291  ) 

difficult  enterprise  it  is  noi  to  be  doubted,  that  as  he 
wrote  a  Cheerake  dictionary,  designed  to  be  published 
at  Paris,  he  likewise  set  down  a  great  deal  that  would 
have  been  very  acceptable  to  the  curious,  and  service- 
able to  the  representatives  of  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia ;  which  may  readily  ])e  found  in  Frederica,  if 
the  manuscripts  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  escape 
the  despoiling  hands  of  military  power. 

By  our  superintendant's  strange  pursuit  of  improper 
measures  to  appease  the  Muskohge,  the  watchful  French 
engaged  the  irritated  Great  Mortar  to  inspire  his  rela- 
tions to  cut  off  some  of  our  traders  by  surprise,  and 
follow  the  blow  at  the  time  the  people  were  usually 
employed  in  the  cornfields,  lest  our  party  should  stop 
them  in  their  intended  bloody  career.  They  accordingly 
began  their  hostile  attack  in  the  upper  town  of  the  nation 
except  one,  where  their  mischievous  red  abettor  lived: 
two  white  people  and  a  negro  were  killed,  while  they 
were  in  the  horse-jien,  preparing  that  day  to  have  set  off 
with  their  returns  to  the  English  settlements.  The 
trader,  who  was  surly  and  ill-natured,  they  chopped  to 
pieces  in  a  most  horrid  manner,  but  the  other  two  they 
did  not  treat  with  any  kind  of  barbarity ;  which  shews 
that  the  worst  people,  in  their  worst  actions,  make  a 
distinction  between  the  morally  virtuous,  and  vicious. 
The  other  white  people  of  that  trading  house,  happily 
were  at  that  time  in  the  woods ; — they  heard  the  savage 
platoon,  and  the  death, and  war  whoop,  which  sufficiently 
warned  them  of  their  imminent  danger,  and  to  seek  their 
safety  by  the  best  mefins  they  could.  Some  of  them 
went  through  the  woods  after  night,  to  our  friend  towns ; 
and  one  who  happened  to  be  near  the  t<jwn  when  the 
alarm  was  given,  going  to  bring  in  a  horse,  was  obliged 


m 


«Mi 


1 


It      • 


(  292  ) 

to  hide  himself  under  a  large  fallen  tree,  till  night  came 
on.  The  eager  savages  came  twice  pretty  near  him, 
imagining  he  would  eh  use  rather  to  depend  on  the 
horse's  speed  than  his  own :  when  the  town  was  engaged 
in  dividing  the  spoils,  his  wife  fearing  she  might  be 
watched,  took  a  considerable  sweep  round  through  the 
thickets,  and  by  searching  the  place  and  making  signals 
where  she  expected  he  lay  concealed,  fortunately  found 
him,  and  gave  him  provisions  to  enable  him  to  get  to 
our  settlements,  and  then  returned  home  in  tears:  he 
arrived  at  Augusta,  though  exceedingly  torn  with  the 
brambles,  as  his  safety  required  him  to  travel  through 
unfrequented  tracts.  In  the  mean  while  the  savages 
having  by  this  inflamed  their  greedy  thirst  for  blood, 
set  off*  swiftly,  and  as  they  darted  along  sounding  the 
news  of  war,  they  from  a  few,  increased  so  fast,  that  their 
voices  conveyed  such  thrilling  shocks  to  those  they  were 
in  quest  of,  as  if  the  infernal  legions  had  broken  loose 
♦Virough  their  favourite  Alebahma,and  were  invested  with 
power  to  destroy  the  innocent.  The  great  Okwhuske 
town,  where  they  reached,  lay  on  the  easternmost  branch 
of  the  Mobille  river,  which  joins  a  far  greater  western 
river,  almost  two  miles  below  the  late  Alebahma;  and 
the  English  traders  store-houses  lay  opposite  to  the  town. 
Those  red  ambassadors  of  the  Freuv^h  artfully  passed  the 
river  above  the  town,  and  ran  along  silently  to  a  gentle- 
man's dwelling  house,  where  they  first  shot  down  one 
of  his  servants,  and  in  a  minute  or  two  after,  himself: 
probably  he  might  have  been  saved,  if  he  had  not  been 
too  desperate;  for  a  strong-bodied  leading  warrior  of  the 
town  was  at  his  house  when  tl»ey  came  to  it,  who  grasped 
him  l)ehind,  with  his  face  toward  the  wall,  on  purpose 
to  save  him  from  being  shot;  as  they  durst  not  kill 


(  293  ) 


himself,  under  the  certain  pa^n  of  death.  But  very  Un- 
luckily, the  gentleman  struggled,  got  hold  of  him,  threw 
him  to  the  ground,  and  so  became  too  fair  a  mark.  Thus 
the  Frenchified  savages  cut  off*,  in  the  bloom  of  his 
youth,  the  son  of  J.  R.  Esq.  Indian  trading  merchant  of 
Augusta,  who  was  the  most  stately,  comely,  and  gallant 
youth,  that  ever  traded  in  the  Muskohge  country,  and 
equally  blessed  with  every  social  virtue  that  attracts 
esteem.  The  very  savages  lament  his  death  to  this  day, 
though  it  was  usual  with  him  to  correct  as  many  of  the 
swaggering  heroes  as  could  stand  round  him  in  his 
house,  when  they  became  impudent  and  mischievous 
through  the  plea  of  drinking  spirituous  liquors:  when 
they  recover  from  their  bacchanal  phronsy,  thty  regard  a 
man  of  a  martial  spirit,  and  contemn  the  pusillanimous. 
While  the  town  was  in  the  utmost  surprize,  the  am- 
bitious warriors  were  joyfully  echoing — "all  is  spoiled;" 
and  sounding  the  deatli-whoop,  they,  like  so  many  in- 
fernal furies  comm'ssioned  to  destroy,  set  off"  at  full 
speed,  dispersing  their  bloody  legions  to  various  towns, 
to  carry  general  destruction  along  with  them.  But  be- 
fore any  of  their  companies  reached  to  the  Okcliai  war- 
town,  (tlie  native  place  of  the  Great  Mortar)  the  inhabit- 
ants had  heard  the  massacre  was  begun,  and  according 
to  their  rule,  killed  two  of  our  traders  in  their  house, 
when  quite  off'  their  guard :  as  these  traders  were  brave, 
and  regardless  of  danger  by  their  habit  of  living,  the 
savages  were  afraid  to  bring  their  arms  with  them,  it 
being  unusual,  by  reason  of  the  secure  situation  of  the 
town.  A  few  therefore  entered  tlie  house,  with  a  specious 
pretence,  and  intercepted  them  from  the  fire-arms,  which 
lay  on  a  rack,  on  the  front  of  the  chimney ;  they  in- 
stantly seized  them,  and  as  tliey  were  loaded  with  large 


■ 


(  294  ) 

shot  they  killed  those  two  valuable  and  intrepid  men, 
and  left  them  on  the  fire — but  if  they  had  been  a  few 
minutes  fore-warned  of  the  danger,  their  lives  would 
have  cost  the  whole  town  very  dear,  unless  they  had 
kindled  the  house  with  fire-arrows. 

Like  pestilential  vapours  driven  by  whirlwinds,  the 
mischievous  savages  endeavoured  to  bring  desolation  on 
the  innocent  objects  of  their  fury  wherever  they  came : 
but  the  different  flights  of  the  trading  people,  as  well  as 
their  own  expertness  in  the  woods,  and  their  connexions 
with  the  Indians,  both  by  marriage  and  other  ties  of 
friendship,  disappointed  the  accomplishment  of  the  main 
point  of  the  French  diabolical  scheme  of  dipping  them 
all  over  in  blood.  By  sundry  means,  a  considerable 
number  of  our  people  met  at  the  friendly  house  of  the 
old  Wolf-King,  two  miles  from  the  Alebahma  Fort, 
where  that  faithful  stern  chieftain  treated  them  with  the 
greatest  kindness.  But,  as  the  whole  nation  was  dis- 
tracted, and  the  neighboring  towns  were  devoted  to  the 
French  interest,  he  found  that  by  having  no  fortress,  and 
only  forty  warriors  in  his  town,  he  was  unable  to  protect 
the  refugees.  In  order  therefore  to  keep  good  faith  with 
his  friends,  who  put  themselves  under  his  protection,  he 
told  them  their  situation,  supplied  those  of  them  with 
arms  and  ammunition  who  chanced  to  have  none,  and 
conveyed  them  into  a  contiguous  thick  swamp,  as  their 
only  place  of  security  for  that  time ;  "  which  their  own 
valour,  he  said,  would  maintain,  both  against  the  French 
and  their  mad  friends."  He  was  not  mistaken  in  his 
favourable  opinion  of  their  war  abilities,  for  they  ranged 
themselves  so  well  that  the  enemy  found  it  impracticable 
to  attack  them,  without  sustaining  far  greater  loss  than 
they  are  known  to  hazard.     He  supplied  them  with 


(  295  ) 


hecessaries,  and  sent  them  safe  at  length  to  a  friendly 
town,  at  a  considerable  distance,  where  they  joined  sev- 
eral other  traders  from  different  places,  and  were  soon 
after  safely  escorted  to  Savanah. 

It  is  surprising  how  those  hardy  men  evaded  the  dan- 
gers they  were  surrounded  with,  especially  at  the  be- 
ginning and  with  so  little  loss.  One  of  them  told  me 
that  while  a  party  of  the  savages  were  on  a  corn-house 
scaffold,  painting  themselves  red  and  black,  to  give  the 
cowardly  blow  to  him  and  his  companions,  an  old  woman 
overheard  them  concerting  their  bloody  design,  and 
speedily  informed  him  of  the  threatening  danger :  he 
mentioned  the  intended  place  of  meeting  to  his  friends, 
and  they  immediately  set  off,  one  this  way  and  another 
that,  to  prevent  a  pursuit,  and  all  met  safe,  to  the  great 
regret  of  the  Christian  French  and  their  red  hirelings. 
I  was  informed  that  another  considerable  trader,  who 
lived  near  a  river,  on  the  outside  of  a  town,  where  he 
stood  secure  in  the  affection  of  his  savage  brethren,  re- 
ceived a  visit  from  two  lusty  ill-looking  strangers,  with- 
out being  discovered  by  any  of  the  inhabitants.  Tliey 
were  anointed  with  bear'e  oil,  and  (juite  naked,  except 
a  narrow  slip  of  cloth  for  breeches,  and  a  light  blanket. 
When  they  came  in,  they  looked  around,  wild  and  con- 
fused, not  knowing  how  to  execute  the  French  commis- 
sion, consistently  with  their  own  safety,  as  they  brought 
no  arms,  lest  it  should  have  discovered  their  intentions, 
and  by  that  means  exi)osed  them  to  danger.  But  they 
seated  themselves  near  the  door,  both  to  prevent  his  es- 
cape and  watch  a  favourable  opportunity  to  i)erpretrate 
their  murdering  scheme.  His  white  domestics  were  a 
little  before  gone  into  the  v/ooil-! ;  and  he  and  his  Indian 
wife  were  in  the  store-house,  where  there  clianced  to  be 


M 


•' 


i 


(  296  ) 

no  arms  of  defence,  which  made  his  escape  the  more 
hazardous.  He  was  nearly  in  the  same  light  dress  as 
that  of  his  visitants,  according  to  the  mode  of  their 
domestic  living:  he  was  about  to  give  them  some 
tobacco,  when  their  countenances  growing  more  gloomy 
and  fierce,  were  observed  by  his  wife,  as  well  as  the  mis- 
chievous direction  of  their  eyes ;  i)resently  therefore  as 
they  bounded  up,  the  one  to  lay  hold  of  the  white  man, 
and  the  other  of  an  axe  that  lay  on  the  floor,  she  seized 
at  the  same  instant,  and  cried,  "husband  fight  strong, 
and  run  off,  as  becomes  a  good  warrior."  The  savage 
strove  to  lay  hold  of  him,  till  the  other  could  disengage 
himself  from  the  sharp  struggle  the  woman  held  with 
him ;  but  by  a  quick  presence  of  mind,  the  husband 
decoyed  his  pursuer  round  a  large  ladder  that  joined  the 
loft,  and  being  strong  and  swift-footed,  he  there  took  the 
advantage  of  his  too  eager  adversary,  dashed  him  to  the 
ground,  and  ran  out  of  the  house,  full  speed  to  the  river, 
bounded  into  it,  soon  made  the  opposite  shore,  and  left 
them  at  the  store-house,  from  whence  the  woman,  as  a 
trusty  friend,  drove  them  off,  with  the  utmost  despight, 
her  family  was  her  protection.  The  remaining  part  of 
that  day  he  ran  a  great  distance  through  the  woods, 
called  at  night  on  such  white  people  as  he  imagined  his 
safety  would  allow  him,  was  joined  by  four  of  them,  and 
went  together  to  Pensac"'  Within  three  or  four  days 
march  of  that  place,  t  -  .nds,  they  told  me,  were  in 
general  either  boggy  and  low,  or  consisted  of  sandy  pine 
barrens.  Although  they  were  almost  naked,  and  had 
lived  for  many  day  ^  on  the  produce  of  the  woods,  yet 
the  dastardly  Spaniards  were  so  hardened  against  the 
tender  feelings  of  nature  in  favour  of  the  distressed,  who 
now  took  sanctuary  under  the  Spanisli  flag,  as  to  refuse 


(  297  ) 


them  every  kind  of  assistance;  contrary  to  the  hospita- 
ble custom  of  the  red  savages,  even  towards  those  they 
devote  to  the  fire.  A  north-country  skipper  who  rode 
in  the  harbour,  was  equally  divested  of  the  ])owels  of 
compassion  toward  them,  notwithstanding  their  pressing 
entreaties,  and  offers  of  bills  on  very  respectable  persons 
in  Charleston.  But  the  commandant  of  the  place  soon 
instructed  him  very  feelingly  in  the  common  laws  of 
humanity  ;  for  on  some  pretext  he  seized  the  vessel  and 
cargo,  and  left  the  narrow-hearted  miser  to  shift  for  him- 
self, and  return  home  as  he  could :  those  unfortunate 
traders  were  kindly  treated  however  by  the  head  man 
of  an  adjacent  town  of  the  Apalache  Indians,  who  being 
a  considerable  dealer,  supplied  them  with  everything 
they  stood  in  need  "^f,  till  in  time,  they  were  recalled ; 
for  which  they  very  thankfully  paid  him  and  the 

rest  of  his  kinu  family,  with  handsome  presents,  as  a 
token  of  their  friendship  and  gratitude. 

In  the  meanwhile,  some  of  the  eloquent  old  traders 
continued  in  their  towns,  where  the  red  flag  of  defiance 
was  hung  up  day  and  night,  as  the  French  had  no  in- 
terest there:  and  in  a  few  other  towns,  some  of  our 
thoughtless  young  men,  who  were  too  much  attached  to 
the  Indian  life,  from  an  early  pursuit  in  that  wild  and 
unlimited  country,  chose  to  run  any  risk,  rather  than 
leave  their  favourite  scenes  of  pleasure.  In  the  day  time, 
they  kept  in  the  most  unfrequented  places,  and  usually 
returned  at  night  to  their  friends  house:  and  they  fol- 
lowed that  dangerous  method  of  living  a  considerable 
time,  in  different  places,  without  any  mischance.  One 
of  them  told  me,  that  one  evening,  when  he  was  re- 
turning to  his  wife's  house  on  horse  back,  before  the 
usual  time,  he  was  overtaken  by  a  couple  of  young  war- 


I 


K. 

J  f 

h 


m 


(  298  ) 

riors,  who  pranced  up  along  side  of  him.  They  spoke 
very  kindly  according  to  their  custom,  that  they  might 
shed  blood,  like  wolves,  without  hazarding  their  own 
carcases.  As  neither  of  them  had  any  weapons,  except 
a  long  knife  hanging  round  their  neck  in  a  sheath,  they 
were  afraid  to  attack  him ,  on  so  hazardous  a  lay.  Their 
questions,  cant  language,  and  discomposed  countenances, 
informed  him  of  their  bloody  intentions,  and  cautioned 
him  from  falling  intoany  of  their  wily  stratagems,  which 
all  cowards  are  dextrous  in  forming.  When  they  came 
to  a  boggy  cane-branch,  they  strove  to  persuade  him  to 
alight  and  rest  a  little,  but  finding  their  labour  in  vain, 
they  got  down;  one  prepared  a  club  to  kill  him,  and  the 
other  a  small  frame  of  split  canes  tied  together  with 
bark,  to  bear  his  scalp — seeing  this,  he  set  off  with  the 
bravado  whoop  through  the  high  lands  ;  and  as  he  rode 
a  swift  horse  he  left  them  out  of  sight  in  an  instant. 
He  took  a  great  sweep  round  to  avoid  an  after  chase. 
At  niglit  he  went  to  the  town,  got  fire-arms  and  pro- 
visions, and  soon  arrived  safe  in  Georgia. 

It  may  not  be  improper  here  to  mention  the  method 
we  commonly  use  in  crossing  deep  rivers.  When  we  ex- 
pect high  rivers,  each  company  of  traders  carry  a  canoe, 
made  of  tanned  leather,  the  sides  over  lapped  about 
three  fingers  breadth,  and  well  sewed  w''h  three  seems. 
Around  the  gunnels,  which  are  made  of  sapplings,  are 
strong  loop  holes,  for  large  deer  strings  to  hang  down 
both  the  sides ;  with  two  of  these,  is  securely  tied  to  the 
stem  and  stern,  a  well-shaped  sappling  for  a  kneel,  and 
in  like  manner  the  ribs.  Thus  they  usually  rig  out  a 
canoe,  fit  to  carry  over  ten  horse  loads  at  once,  in  the 
space  of  half  an  hour:  the  apparatus  is  afterwards  com- 
monly hidden  with  great  care  on  the  opposite  shore. 


(  299  ) 


Few  take  the  trouble  to  paddle  the  canoe;  for  as  they 
are  commonly  hardy,  and  also  of  an  amphibious  nature, 
they  usually  jump  into  the  river,  with  their  leathern 
barge  a-head  of  them,  and  thrust  it  through  the  deep 
part  of  the  water,  to  the  opposite  shore.  When  we  ride 
only  with  a  few  luggage  horses,  a3  was  our  case  at  Sip  se, 
or  "  Popular,"  the  above  mentioned  high  swelled  river, 
we  make  a  frame  of  dry  pines,  which  we  tie  together 
with  strong  vines,  well  twisted;  when  we  have  raised  it 
to  be  sufficiently  buoyant,  we  load  and  paddle  it  acioss 
the  stillest  part  of  the  water  we  can  conveniently  find, 
and  afterward  swim  our  horses  together,  we  keeping  at 
a  little  distance  below  them. 

At  the  time  we  first  began  to  search  for  convenient 
floating  timber,  I  chanced  to  stand  at  the  end  of  a  dry 
tree,  overset  by  a  hurricane,  within  three  feet  of  a  great 
rattle  snake,  that  was  coiled,  and  on  his  watch  of  self- 
defence,  under  thick  herbage.  I  soon  espied  and  killed 
him.  But  an  astrologer,  of  twenty  years  standing  among 
the  Indians,  immediately  declared  with  strong  assevera- 
tions, we  should  soon  be  exposed  to  imminent  danger; 
which  he  expatiated  upon  largely,  from  his  imagined 
knowledge  of  a  combination  of  second  causes  in  the 
celestial  regions,  actuating  every  kind  of  animals,  vege- 
tables, &c.  by  their  subtil  and  delegated  power.  I  argued 
in  vain  to  hush  his  groundless  fears:  however,  while  the 
raft  was  getting  ready,  another  gentleman  to  quiet  his 
timorous  apprehensions,  accompanied  me  with  fire-arms, 
pretty  near  the  path  in  the  before  mentioned  cane  swamp, 
and  we  staid  there  a  considerable  while,  at  the  proper 
distance  apart — at  last  we  heard  the  well-mimicked  voice 
of  partridges,  further  ofl"  than  our  sight  could  discover, 
on  which  one  of  us  struck  up  the  whoop  of  friendship 


1:1 


f 


ft  • 


ill       I 


i) 


m  J 


(  300  ) 

and  indifference ;  for  I  knew  that  tlie  best  way  of  argu- 
ing on  such  occasions,  was  by  a  firmness  of  countenance 
and  behaviour.  I  then  went  near  to  my  companion, 
and  said,  our  cunning  man  was  an  Aberdeen  wizard,  as 
he  had  so  exactly  foretold  the  event.  The  savages  had 
both  discovered  our  tracks,  and  heard  the  sound  of  the 
ax.  We  soon  met  them ;  they  were  nine  of  the  mischiev- 
ous Okchai  town,  who  had  separated  from  the  rest  of 
their  company.  We  conversed  a  little  while  together 
upon  our  arms,  and  in  this  manner,  exchanged  provi- 
sions with  each  other — then  we  went  down  to  the  bank 
of  the  river,  where  they  opened  their  packs,  spread  out 
some  hairy  deer  and  bear  skins  with  the  fleshy  side  un- 
dermost, and  having  first  placed  on  them  their  heavy 
things,  and  then  the  lighter,  with  the  guns  which  lay 
uppermost,  each  made  two  knots  with  the  shanks  of  a 
skin,  and  in  the  space  of  a  few  minutes  they  had  their 
leathern  barge  afloat,  which  they  soon  thrust  before 
them  to  the  other  shore,  with  a  surprizingly  small  devia- 
tion from  a  direct  course,  considering  the  strong  current 
of  the  water.  When  our  astrologer  saw  them  safe  oft', 
he  wished  them  a  speedy  journe}'  home,  without  being 
exposed  to  the  necessity  of  any  delay.  He  was  soon 
after  carried  safe  over  on  our  raft,  though  once  he  al- 
most over-set  it,  either  by  reason  of  the  absence  or  dis- 
turbance of  his  mind.  Had  he  contracted  a  fever,  from 
the  impending  dangers  his  knowledge  assured  him  were 
not  yet  past,  the  cold  sweat  he  got  when  left  by  himself, 
while  we  were  returning  with  the  raft,  and  afterward 
swimming  with  the  horses,  must  have  contributed  a 
good  deal  to  the  cure.  Soon  afterwards,  we  came  in  sight 
of  their  camp  in  a  little  spot  of  clear  land  surrounded 
by  a  thick  cane-swamp,  where  some  traders  formerly 


(   301  ) 


had  been  killed  by  the  Choktah.  Our  astrologer  urged 
the  necessity  of  proceeding  a  good  way  farther,  to  avoid 
the  danger.  I  endeavoured  to  convince  him  by  several 
recent  instances,  that  a  timorous  conduct  was  a  great  in- 
centive to  the  base  minded  savages  to  do  an  injury,  not 
expecting  any  defence;  while  an  open,  free  and  re'^olutc 
])ehaviour,  a  show  of  taking  pleasure  in  their  company, 
and  a  discreet  care  of  our  fire-arms,  seldom  failed  to  gain 
the  good  will  of  such  as  are  not  engaged  in  actual  war 
against  our  country :  he  acquiesced,  as  I  engaged  to  sit 
next  the  Indian  camp,  which  was  about  a  dozen  yards 
apart  from  ours.  He  chose  his  place  pretty  near  to 
mine,  but  in  the  evening,  I  told  him,  that  as  I  did  not 
understand  the  the  Muskohge  dialect,  nor  they  much 
of  the  Chikkasah  language,  I  would  give  him  the  oppor- 
tunity of  diverting  himself  at  leisure  with  them,  whilst 
on  account  of  the  fatigue  of  the  day,  I  would  repose  my- 
self close  at  the  root  of  a  neighbouring  tree.  This  method 
of  encamping  in  different  places,  on  hazardous  occasions, 
is  by  far  the  safest  way.  I  told  them  before  my  removal 
to  my  night  quarters,  that  he  was  almost  their  country- 
man, by  a  residence  of  twenty  years  among  them — their 
chieftain  therefore  readily  addressed  him,  and  accord- 
ing to  what  I  expected,  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  de- 
cently retiring.  But  when  he  expected  a  formal  reply, 
according  to  their  usual  custom,  our  astrological  inter- 
preter spoke  only  a  few  words,  but  kept  pointing  to  the 
river,  and  his  wet  clothes  and  to  his  head,  shaking  it 
two  or  three  times ;  thereby  informing  them  of  the  great 
danger  he  underwent  in  crossing  the  water,  which  gave 
him  so  violent  a  headache  as  to  prevent  his  speaking 
with  any  pleasure.  I  laughed,  and  soon  after  endeav- 
oured to  persuade  him  to  go  over  a  little  while  to  their 


^ 


i: 


I 


{i 

V 


y 


i\ 


(  302  ) 

camp,  as  I  had  done,  and  by  that  means,  he  might  know 
better  their  present  disposition ;  he  replied  with  a  doleful 
accent,  that  he  was  already  too  near  them,  to  the  great 
danger  of  his  life,  which  he  now  too  late  saw  exposed, 
by  believing  my  doctrine  of  bringing  them  to  observe 
friendly  measures,  instead  of  pushing  beyond  them  as  he 
had  earnestly  proposed.  I  asked  how  he  could  reason- 
ably fear  or  expect  to  shun  a  sudden  death,  on  occount 
of  his  knowledge  of  the  starry  influence,  and  skill  in  ex- 
pounding dreams,  and  especially  as  he  seemed  firmly  to 
believe  the  deity  had  prc-determined  the  exact  time  of 
every  living  creature's  continuance  here :  upon  this  he 
prevaricated  and  told  me,  that  as  I  knew  nothing  of  as- 
trology, nor  of  the  useful  and  skilful  exposition  of  im- 
portant dreams,  neither  believed  anything  of  witches 
and  wizards  being  troublesome  and  hurtful  to  others,  he 
could  not  imagine  I  believed  any  thing  of  a  divine  pro- 
vidence or  a  resurrection  of  the  dead;  which  were  evi- 
dently alike  true,  as  appeared  both  by  divine  writ,  and 
the  united  consent  of  every  ancient  nation.  He  said 
people  were  ordered  to  watch  and  pray ;  I  therefore 
could  not  be  ruled  by  the  scripture,  for  why  did  I  go  to 
bed  so  soon  and  leave  all  the  trouble  to  him.  I  told  him, 
I  wished  he  might  by  prayer,  obtain  a  calm  composure 
of  mind.  He  said,  I  was  the  cause  of  all  his  uneasiness, 
by  inducing  him,  contrary  to  his  over-nights  bloody 
dream,  to  lie  so  near  those  wolfish  savages.  Then  in 
angry  panic,  he  cursed  me,  and  said,  he  should  not  that 
night  have  prayed  there,  only  that  the  devil  tempted 
him  to  believe  my  damned  lies,  and  sin  against  the  di- 
vine intimations  he  had  received  just  before. 


111 

r 


MM 


(  303  ) 

The  Indians  in  general  do  not  chuse  to  drink  any 
spirits,  unless  they  can  quite  intoxicate  themselves. 
When  in  that  helpless  and  sordid  condition,  weeping 
and  asking  for  more  ookka  hoome,  "  bitter  waters,"  I  saw 
one  of  the  drunkard's  relations,  who  some  time  before 
had  taken  a  like  dose,  hold  the  rum  bottle  to  the  others 
head,  saying,  when  he  had  drank  deep,  "  Ha,  you  were 
very  poor  for  drinking.''  Though  I  appealed  to  all  the 
Chikkasah  warriors  present,  that  rum  never  stood  on 
hand  with  me,  when  the  people  were  at  home,  and 
several  times  affirmed  to  the  importunate  Choktah,  that 
it  was  entirely  expended ;  yet  my  denial  served  only  to 
make  him  more  earnest;  upon  this  I  told  him  that 
though  I  had  no  ookka  Jwovie,  I  had  a  full  bottle  of  the 
water  of  anne  hoome,  *'  bitter  ears,"  meaning  long  pepper, 
of  which  he  was  ignorant  as  he  had  seen  none  of  that 
kind.  We  were  of  the  opinion  that  his  eager  thirst  for 
liquor,  as  well  as  his  ignorance  of  the  burning  quality 
of  the  pepper,  and  the  resemblance  of  the  words,  which 
signify  things  of  a  hot  though  different  nature,  would 
induce  the  bacchanal  to  try  it.  He  accordingly  ap- 
plauded my  generous  disposition,  and  said  "his  heart 
had  all  the  while  told  him  I  would  not  act  beneath  the 
character  I  bore  among  his  country  people."  The  bottle 
was  brought;  I  laid  it  on  the  table,  and  told  him,  as  he 
was  then  spitting  very  much  (a  general  custom  with  the 
Indians,  when  they  are  eager  for  any  thing)  "if  I  drank 
it  all  at  one  sitting,  it  would  cause  me  to  spit  in  earnest, 
as  I  used  it  only  wlien  I  ate,  and  then  very  moderately ; 
but  though  I  loved  it,  if  his  heart  was  very  poor  for  it,  I 
should  be  silent,  and  not  in  the  least  grudge  him  for 
pleasing  his  mouth."  He  said,  "your  heart  is  honest 
indeed,  I  thank  you  for  it  is  good  to  my  heart,  and 


k 


(  304  ) 

makes  it  greatly  to  rejoice."  Without  any  furtlier  cere- 
mony, he  seized  the  bottle,  uncorked  it,  and  swallowed 
a  large  quantity  of  the  burning  liquid,  till  he  was  near 
strangled.  He  gasped  for  a  considerable  time,  and  as 
soon  as  he  recovered  his  breath,  he  said  Hah,  and  soon 
after  kept  stroaking  his  throat  with  his  right  hand. 
When  the  violence  of  this  burning  draught  was  pretty 
well  over,  he  began  to  flourish  away,  in  praise  of  the 
strength  of  the  liquor,  and  bounty  of  the  giver.  He 
then  went  to  his  companion,  and  held  the  bottle  to  his 
mouth,  according  to  custom,  till  he  took  several  hearty 
swallows.  This  Indian  seemed  rather  more  sensible  of 
its  fiery  quality  than  the  other,  for  it  suffocated  him  for 
a  considerable  time;  but  as  soon  as  he  recovered  his 
breath,  he  tumbled  about  on  the  tloor  in  various  pos- 
tures like  a  drunken  person,  overcome  by  the  force  of 
liquor.  In  this  manner,  each  of  them  renewed  their 
draught,  till  they  had  finished  the  whole  bottle,  into 
which  two  others  had  been  decanted.  The  Chikkasah 
spectators  were  surprised  at  their  tasteless  and  voracious 
appetite,  and  laughed  heartily  at  them,  mimicking  the 
actions,  language  and  gesture  of  drunken  savages.  The 
burning  liquor  so  highly  inflamed  their  bodies,  that  one 
of  the  Choktah  to  cool  his  inward  parts  drank  water 
till  he  almost  burst;  the  other  rather  than  bear  the  ridi- 
cule of  the  people,  and  the  inward  fire  that  distracted 
him,  drowned  himself  the  second  night  after  in  a  broad 
and  shallow  clay  hole,  contiguous  to  the  dwelling  house 
of  his  uncle,  who  was  the  Chikkasah  Archimagus. 

There  was  an  incident,  something  similar,  which  hap- 
pened in  the  year  1736,  in  Knnootare,  the  most  northern 
town  of  the  Cheerake.  When  all  the  liquor  was  ex- 
pended, the  Indians  went  home,  leading  with  them  at 


■■^1 


( ,«  ) 

hiy  request  those  who  were  drunk.     One  however  soon 
came  back,  and  earnestly   importuned  me  for  more 
Nawohtif  which  signifies  both   physic  and  spirituous 
licjuors.    The  more  I  excused  myself,  the  more  anxious 
he  grew,  so  as  to  become  offensive.     I  then  told  him  I 
had  only  one  quarter  of  a  bottle  of  strong  physic  which 
sick  people  might  drink  in  small  (quantities,  for  tlie  cure 
of  inward  pains :  and  laying  it  down  before  him,  1  de- 
clared I  did  not  on  any  account  choose  to  part  with  it, 
but  as  his  speech  of  few  words,  had  become  very  long 
and  troublesome,  he  might  do  just  as  his  heart  directed 
him  concerning  it.     He  took  it  up,  saying  his  heart  was 
very  poor  for  physic,  but  that  would  cure  it  and  make 
it  quite  streight.   The  bottle  contained  almost  three  gills 
of  spirits  of  turpentine,  which  in  a  short  time  he  drank 
off.     Such  a  quantity  of  the  like  physic  would  have 
demolished  me  or  any  other  white  person.    The  Indians 
in  general  are  either  capable  of  suffering  exquisite  pain 
longer  than  we  are,  or  of  showing  more  constancy  and 
composure  in  their  torments.    The  troublesome  visitor 
soon  tumbled  down  and  foamed  prodigiously.     I  then 
sent  for  some  of  his  relations  to  carry  him  home.    They 
came — 1  told  them  he  drank  greedily  and  too  much  of 
the  physic.    They  said  it  was  his  usual  custom  when 
the  red  people  bought  the  English  physic.     They  gave 
him  a  decoction  of  proper  herbs  and  roots,  the  next  day 
sweated  him,  repeated  the  former  draught,  and  he  soon 
got  well.    As  those  spirits  of  turpentine  did  not  inebriate 
him,  but  only  intlanied  his  intestines,  he  well  remem- 
bered the  burning  (quality  of  my  favourite  physic  which 
he  had  so  indiscreetly  drank  up,  and  cautioned  the  rest 
from  ever  teizing  me  for  any  j)hysic  I  had  concealed  in 


(  806  ) 


th   \ 


i' 


V 


f.! 


li  ■■ 


ahy  sort  of  bottles  for  my  own  use;  otherwise  they 
might  be  sure  it  would  spoil  them,  like  the  eating  of 
fire. 


If  it  be  allowed  that  the  first  discoverers  and  possess- 
ors of  a  foreign  waste  country,  have  a  just  title  to  it,  the 
French  by  giving  up  New  Orleans  to  Great  Sritain, 
would  have  only  ceded  to  her,  possessions,  which  they 
had  no  right  to  keep;  for  col.  Wood  was  the  first  dis- 
coverer of  the  Mississippi,  who  stands  on  public  record, 
and  the  chief  part  of  ten  years  he  employed  in  search- 
ing its  course.  This  spirited  attempt  he  began  in  the 
year  1654  and  ended  1()64.  Capt.  Bolton  made  the  like 
attempt  in  the  year  1670.  Doctor  Cox  of  New  Jersey 
sent  two  ships  Anno  1698,  which  discovered  the  mouth 
of  it;  and  having  sailed  a  hundred  miles  up  he  took 
possession  of  the  whole  country,  and  called  it  Carolana : 
whereas  the  French  did  not  discover  it  till  tlie  year  1699, 
when  they  gave  it  the  name  of  Colbert's  river,  in  honour 
of  their  favourite  minister,  and  the  whole  country  they 
called  Loisinana,  which  may  soon  be  exchanged  for 
Philippiana — till  the  Americans  give  it  another  and 
more  desirable  name. 


It  may  be  expected  I  should  describe  the  number  of 
men  their  war  companies  consist  of,  but  it  is  various  and 
uncertain ;  sometimes  two  or  three  only  will  go  to  war, 
proceed  as  cautiously,  and  strike  their  prey  as  panthers. 
In  the  year  1747,  a  couple  of  the  Mohawk  Indians  came 
against  the  lower  towns  of  the  Cheerake,  and  so  cun- 
ningly ambuscaded  them  through  most  part  of  the  spring 
and  summer,  as  to  kill  above  twenty  in  different  attacks, 


I 


(  ^0)  ) 

before  they  were  discovered  by  any  party  of  the  enraged 
and  dejected  people.  They  had  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  most  convenient  ground  for  their  purpose,  and 
were  extremely  swift  and  long  winded — whenever  they 
killed  any  and  got  the  scalp,  they  made  off  to  the  neigh- 
bouring mountains,  and  ran  over  the  broad  ledges  of 
rocks,  in  contrary  courses,  as  occasion  offered,  so  as  the 
pursuers  could  by  no  means  trace  them.  Once  when  a 
large  company  was  in  chase  of  them,  they  ran  round  a 
steep  hill  at  the  head  of  the  main  eastern  branch  of  Hav- 
ana river,  intercepted,  killed  and  scalped  the  hindmost 
of  the  party,  and  then  made  off  between  them  and  Keeo- 
whee:  as  this  was  the  town  to  which  the  company  be- 
longed, they  hastened  home  in  a  close  body,  as  the  pro- 
per place  of  security  from  such  enemy  wizards.  In  this 
manner,  did  those  two  sprightly  gallant  savages  perplex 
and  intimidate  their  foes  for  the  space  of  four  moons,  in 
the  greatest  security;  though  they  often  were  forced  to 
kill  and  barbicue  what  they  chiefly  lived  upon,  in  the 
midst  of  their  watchful  enemies.  Having  sufHciently 
revenged  their  relations'  blood,  and  gratified  their  own 
ambition  with  an  uncommon  number  of  scalps,  they  re- 
solved to  captive  one,  and  run  home  with  him,  as  a  proof 
of  their  having  killed  none  but  the  enemies  of  their 
country.  Accordingly  they  approached  very  near  to 
Keeowhee,  about  half  a  mile  below  the  late  fort  Prince 
George,  advancing  with  the  usual  caution  on  such  an 
occasion — one  crawled  along  under  the  best  cover  of  the 
place,  about  the  distance  of  an  hundred  yards  a  head, 
while  the  other  shifted  from  tree  to  tree,  looking  sharply 
every  way.  In  the  evening,  however,  an  old  beloved 
man  discovered  them  from  th«;  top  of  an  adjoining  hill, 
and  knew  them  to  be  enemies,  by  the  cut  of  their  hair, 


-^.■^-K 


l>     'f* 


i^i    ' 


1: 


,/ 


(  308  ) 

light  trim  for  running,  and  their  postures ;  he  returned 
to  the  town,  and  called  first  at  the  house  of  one  of  our 
traders,  and  informed  him  of  the  affair,  enjoining  him 
not  to  mention  it  to  any,  lest  the  people  should  set  off 
against  them  without  success,  before  their  tracks  were  to 
be  discovered,  and  he  be  charged  with  having  deceived 
them.  But,  contrary  to  the  true  policy  of  traders  among 
unforgiving  savages,  that  thoughtless  member  of  the 
Choktah  Sphynx-company  busied  himself  as  usual 
out  of  his  proper  sphere,  sent  for  the  head  men,  and  told 
them  the  story.  As  the  Mohawks  were  our  allies,  and 
not  known  to  molest  any  of  the  traders  in  the  paths  and 
woods,  he  ought  to  have  observed  a  strict  neutrality. 
The  youth  of  the  town,  by  order  of  their  head-men,  car- 
ried on  their  noisy  public  diversions,  in  their  usual  man- 
ner, to  prevent  their  foes  from  having  any  suspicion  of 
their  danger,  while  runners  were  sent  from  the  town  to 
their  neighbours,  to  come  silently  and  assist  them  to 
secure  the  prey,  in  its  state  of  security.  They  came  like 
silent  ghosts,  concerted  their  plans  of  operation,  passed 
over  the  river  at  the  old  trading  ford,  opposite  to  the  late 
fort,  which  lay  between  two  contiguous  commanding 
hills,  and  proceeding  downward  over  a  broad  creek, 
formed  a  large  semi-circle  from  the  river  bank,  while  the 
town  seemed  to  be  taking  its  usual  rest.  They  then 
closed  into  a  narrower  compass,  and  at  last  discovered 
the  two  brave  unfortunate  men  lying  close  under  the 
tops  of  some  fallen  young  pine  trees.  The  company 
gave  the  war  signal,  and  the  Mohawks  bounding  up 
bravely  repeated  it:  but  by  their  sudden  spring  from 
under  thick  cover,  their  arms  were  useless :  they  made 
desperate  efforts  however  to  kill  or  be  killed,  as  their 
situation  required.    One  of  the  Chcerake,  the  noted  half 


i 


(  309  ) 

breed  of  Istanare  town,  which  lay  two  miles  from  thence, 
was  at  the  first  onset,  knocked  down  and  almost  killed 
with  his  own  cutlass,  which  was  wrested  from  him, 
though  he  was  the  strongest  of  the  whole  nation.  But 
they  were  overpowered  by  numbers,  captivated,  and  put 
to  the  most  exquisitive  tortures  of  fire,  and  amidst  a 
prodigious  crowd  of  exulting  foes. 


The  young  prisoners  are  saved,  if  not  devoted  while 
the  company  were  sanctifying  themselves  for  their  ex- 
pedition ;  but  if  the  latter  be  the  case,  they  are  con- 
demned, and  tied  to  the  dreadful  stake,  one  at  a  time. 
The  victors  first  strip  their  miserable  captives  quite 
naked,  and  put  on  their  feet  a  pair  of  bear-skin  mac- 
caseens,  with  the  black  hairy  part  outwards;  others 
fasten  with  a  grape-vine,  a  burning  fire-brand  to  the 
pole,  a  little  above  the  reach  of  their  heads.  Then  they 
know  their  doom — deep  black,  and  burning  fire,  are  fixed 
seals  of  their  death-warrant.  Their  punishment  is 
always  left  to  the  women;  and  on  account  of  their  false 
standard  of  education,  they  are  no  way  backward  in 
their  office,  but  perform  it  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
the  greedy  eyes  of  the  spectators.  Each  of  them  pre- 
pares for  the  dreadful  rejoicing,  a  long  bundle  of  dry 
canes,  or  the  heart  of  fat  pitch  pine,  and  as  the  victims 
are  led  to  the  stake,  the  women  and  their  young  ones 
beat  them  in  a  most  barbarous  manner.  Happy  would 
it  be  for  the  miserable  creatures,  if  tlieir  sufferings  ended 
here,  or  a  merciful  tomahawk  finished  them  at  one 
stroke;  but  this  shameful  treatment  is  a  prelude  to 
future  sufferings. 

The  death  signal  being  given,  preparations  are  made 
for  acting  a  more  tragical  part.  The  victim  s  arms  are  fast 
20 


(  310  ) 


/' 


B'l  '    .] 


pinioned,  and  a  strong  grape  vine  is  tied  around  his 
neck,  to  the  top  of  the  war-pole,  allowing  him  to  track 
around,  about  fifteen  yards.  They  fix  some  tough  clay 
on  his  head,  to  secure  the  scalp  from  the  blazing  torches. 
Unspeakable  pleasure  now  fills  the  exulting  crowd  of 
spectators,  and  the  circle  now  fills  with  the  Amazon  and 
merciless  executioners.  The  suffering  warrior  however 
is  not  dismayed;  with  an  insulting  manly  voice  he 
sings  the  war  song!  and  with  gallant  contempt  he 
tramples  the  rattling  gourd  with  pebbles  in  it  to  pieces, 
and  outbraves  even  death  itself.  The  women  make  a 
furious  onset  with  their  burning  torches;  his  pain  is 
soon  so  excruciating,  that  he  rushes  out  from  the  pole, 
with  the  fury  of  the  most  savage  beast  of  prey,  and  with 
the  vine  sweeps  down  all  before  him,  kicking,  biting 
and  trampling  them  with  the  greatest  despite.  The 
circle  immediately  fills  again,  either  wiih  the  same  or 
fresh  persons ;  they  attack  him  on  every  side — now  he 
runs  to  the  pole  for  shelter,  but  the  flames  pursue  him. 
Then  with  champing  teeth,  and  sparkling  eye-balls,  he 
breaks  through  their  contracted  circle  afresh,  and  acts 
every  part,  that  the  highest  courage,  most  raging  fury, 
and  blackest  despair  can  prompt  him  to.  But  he  is 
sure  to  ))e  overpowered  by  numl)ers,  and  after  some 
time  the  fire  affects  his  tender  parts.  Then  they  pour 
over  liini  a  quantity  of  cold  water,  and  allow  him  a 
proper  time  of  respite,  till  his  spirits  recover,  and  he  is 
capable  of  suffering  new  tortures.  Then  the  like  cruel- 
ties are  repeated  till  he  falls  down,  and  happily  becomes 
insensible  of  pain.  Now  they  scalp  him,  dismember, 
and  ciirry  off'  all  the  exterior  branches  of  the  body, 
(pudendis  non  exceptis)  in  shameful,  and  savage 
triumph.    This  is  the  most  favourable  treatment  their 


(  311  ) 

devoted  captives  receive:  it  would  be  too  shocking  to 
humanity  either  to  give,  or  peruse,  every  particular  of 
their  conduct  in  such  doleful  tragedies — nothing  can 
equal  these  scenes,  but  those  of  the  merciful  Romish 
inquisition. 

I  cannot  forbear  giving  another  instance  or  two  here 
of  the  constancy,  visible  unconcern,  and  presence  of 
mind,  of  the  Indians  at  the  approach  of  death  in  its 
most  alarming  dress  and  terrors. 

About  four  years  before  the  Shawano  Indians  were 
forced  to  remove  from  the  late  Savanah  town,  they  took 
a  Muskohge  warrior,  known  by  the  name  of  ''Old 
Scrany;"  they  bastinadoed  him  in  the  usual  manner, 
and  condemned  him  to  the  fiery  torture.  He  under- 
went a  great  deal,  without  showing  any  concern;  hia 
countenance  and  behaviour  were  as  if  he  suffered  not 
the  least  pain,  and  was  formed  beyond  the  common 
laws  of  nature.  He  told  them,  with  a  bold  voice,  that 
he  was  a  very  noted  warrior,  and  gained  most  of  his 
martial  preferment  at  the  expence  of  their  nation,  and 
was  desirous  of  showing  in  the  act  of  dying,  that  he 
was  still  as  much  their  superior,  as  when  lie  headed  his 
gallant  countrymen  against  them.  That  although  he 
had  fallen  into  their  hands  in  forfeiting  the  j)rotecti()n 
of  the  divine  power,  by  some  im})urity  or  other,  when 
carrying  the  holy  ark  of  war  against  his  devoted  ene- 
mies; yet  he  had  still  so  much  remaining  virtue,  as 
would  enable  him  to  punish  himself  more  exquisitely 
than  all  their  despicable  ignorant  crowd  could  possibly 
do,  if  they  gave  him  liberty  by  untying  him,  and  would 
hand  to  him  one  of  the  red  hot  gun-bamls  out  of  the 
fire.  The  proposal,  and  his  method  of  address,  appeared 
80  exceedingly  bold  and  uncommon,  that  his  request 


(  312  ) 


^■ly 


■  f . ; 


was  granted.  Then  he  suddenly  seized  one  end  of  the 
red  barrel,  and  brandishing  it  from  side  to  side,  he 
forced  his  way  through  the  armed  and  surprised  multi- 
tude, and  leaped  down  a  prodigious  steep  and  high  bank 
into  a  branch  of  the  river,  dived  through  it,  ran  over  a 
small  island,  and  passed  the  other  branch,  amidt^t  a 
shower  of  bullets  from  the  commanding  ground  wliere 
Fort-Moore,  or  New  Windsor  garrison  stood ;  and  though 
numbers  of  his  eager  enemies  were  in  close  pursuit  of 
him,  he  got  to  a  bramble  swamp,  and  in  that  naked, 
mangled  condition  reached  his  own  country.  He  proved 
a  sharp  thorn  in  their  side  afterwards  to  the  day  of  his 
death. 

The  Shawano  also  captivated  a  warrior  of  the  Anan- 
tooeah,  and  put  him  to  the  stake,  according  to  their 
usual  solemnities.  Having  unconcernedly  suffered  much 
sharp  torture,  he  told  them  with  scorn,  they  did  not  know 
how  to  punish  a  noted  enemy,  therefore  he  was  willing 
to  teach  them,  and  would  confirm  the  truth  of  his  asser- 
tions, if  they  allowed  him  the  opportunity.  Accordingly 
he  requested  of  them  a  pipe  and  some  tobacco,  which 
was  given  him :  as  soon  as  he  lighted  it,  he  sat  down, 
naked  as  he  was,  on  the  women's  burning  torches,  that 
were  within  his  circle,  and  continued  smoking  his  pipe 
without  the  least  discomposure — on  this  a  head-warrior 
leaped  up,  and  said,  they  had  seen  plain  enough,  that 
he  was  a  warrior,  and  not  afraid  of  dying;  nor  should 
he  have  died,  only  that  he  was  spoiled  by  the  fire,  and 
devoted  to  it  by  their  laws:  however,  though  he  was  a 
verv  dangerous  enemy,  and  his  nation  a  treacherous 
people,  it  should  appear  they  paid  a  regard  to  bravery, 
even  in  one,  who  was  marked  over  the  body  with  war 
streaks,   at  the   cost  of  many   lives  of  their  beloved 


(  313  ) 

kindred.  And  then  by  way  of  favour,  he  with  "is 
friendly  tomahawk,  instantly  put  an  end  to  all  his  pains: 
— though  the  merciful  but  bloody  instrument  was  ready 
some  minutes  before  it  gave  the  blow,  yet  I  was  assured, 
the  spectators  could  not  perceive  the  sufferer  to  change, 
either  posture  or  his  steady  erect  countenance  in  the 
least. 

A  party  of  thp  Senekah  Indians  came  to  war  against 
the  Katahba,  bitter  enemies  to  each  other.  In  tlie  woods, 
the  former  discovered  a  sprightly  warrior  belonging  to 
the  latter,  hunting  in  their  usual  light  dresn;  on  his 
perceiving  them,  he  sprung  off  for  a  hollow  rock,  four 
or  five  miles  distant,  as  they  intercepted  him  from  run- 
ning howeward.  He  was  so  extremely  swift  and  skilful 
with  the  gun,  as  to  kill  seven  of  them  in  the  running 
fight,  before  they  were  able  to  surround  and  take  him. 
They  carried  him  in  sad  triumph:  but,  though  he  had 
filled  them  with  uncommon  grief  and  shame,  for  the 
loss  of  so  many  of  their  kindred,  yet  the  love  of  martial 
virtue  induced  them  to  treat  hnn  during  their  long 
journey,  with  a  great  deal  more  civility,  than  if  ho  had 
acted  the  part  of  a  coward.  The  women  and  children, 
when  they  met  him  at  their  several  towns,  beat  and 
whipped  him  in  as  severe  a  manner  as  the  occasion 
required,  according  to  the  law  of  justice,  and  at  last  he 
was  formally  condemned  to  die  by  the  fiery  tortures.  It 
might  rea8onal)ly  be  imagined  tliat  what  he  had  for  some 
time  gone  through,  by  being  fed  with  a  scanty  band,  a 
tedious  march, lying  at  night  on  tlie  l)are  ground  exposed 
to  the  weather,  with  his  arms  and  legs  extended  in  a 
pair  of  rough  stocks,  and  suffering  such  punishments  on 
his  entering  into  their  hostile  towns,  as  a  prelude  to  those 
sharp  torments  for  which  he  was  destined,  would  have 


I 


4 


'!>} 


■  t. 


:   I 


(314) 

80  impaired  his  health,  and  affected  his  imagination,  as 
to  have  sent  him  to  his  long  sleep  out  of  the  way  of  any 
more  sufferings.  Probibly  this  would  have  been  the 
case  with  the  major  part  of  white  people,  under  similar 
circumstances ;  l>ut  I  never  knew  this  with  any  of  the 
Indians;  and  this  cool-headed  brave  warrior  did  not 
deviate  from  their  rough  lessons  of  martial  virtue,  but 
acted  his  part  so  well,  as  to  surprise  and  sorely  vex  his 
numerous  enemies.  For,  when  they  were  taking  him 
unpinioned,  in  their  wild  parade,  to  the  place  of  torture 
which  lay  near  to  a  river,  he  suddenly  dashed  down 
those  who  stood  in  his  waj'^,  sprung  off,  and  plunged 
into  the  water,  swimming  underneath  like  an  otter,  only 
rising  to  take  breath  till  he  reached  the  opposite  shore* 
He  now  ascended  the  steep  bank;  but  though  he  had 
good  reason  to  be  in  a  hurry,  as  many  of  the  enemy 
were  in  the  water,  and  others  running  every  way  like 
blood-hounds,  in  pursuit  of  him,  and  the  bullets  flying 
around  him,  from  the  time  he  took  to  the  river,  yet  his 
heart  did  not  allow  him  to  leave  them  abruptly,  without 
taking  leave  in  a  formal  manner,  in  return  for  the  ex- 
traordinary favours  they  had  done,  and  intended  to  do 
him.  He  first  turned  his  backside  toward  them,  and 
slapped  it  with  his  hand ;  then  moving  round,  he  put 
the  shrill  war  whoop,  as  his  last  salute,  till  some  more 
convenient  opportunity  offered,  and  darted  ofi'  in  the 
manner  of  a  beast  broke  loose  from  its  torturing  ene- 
mies. He  continued  his  speed  so  as  to  run  by  about 
midnight  of  the  same  day,  as  far  as  his  eager  pursuers 
were  two  days  in  reaching.  There  he  rested  till  he 
happily  discovered  five  of  those  Indians,  who  had  pur- 
sued him — he  lay  hid  a  little  way  off  their  camp,  till 
they   were  sound  asleep.     Every  circumstance  of  his 


(  315  ) 

situation  occurred  to  him,  and  inspired  him  with  hero- 
ism. He  was  naked,  torn,  and  hungry,  and  his  enraged 
enemies  were  come  up  with  him.  But  there  was  now 
everything  to  relieve  his  wants,  and  a  fair  opportunity 
to  save  his  life,  and  get  great  honour,  by  sweet  revenge,  by 
cutting  them  off.  Besolution,  a  convenient  spot,  and 
sudden  surprise,  would  effect  the  main  object  of  all  his 
wishes  and  hopes.  Ht  accordingly  creeped  towards 
them,  took  one  of  their  tomahawks  and  killed  them  all 
on  the  spot.  He  then  chopped  them  to  i)ieces,  in  as 
horrid  a  manner  as  savage  fury  could  excite,  both 
through  national  and  personal  resentment, — he  stripped 
off  their  scalps,  clothed  himself,  took  a  choice  gun,  and 
as  much  ammunition  and  provisions  as  he  could  well 
carry  in  a  running  march.  He  set  off  afresh  with  a 
light  heart,  and  did  not  sleep  for  several  successive 
nights,  only  when  he  reclined  as  usual  a  little  before 
day,  with  his  back  to  a  tree.  As  it  were  by  instinct, 
when  he  found  he  was  free  from  the  pursuing  enemy, 
he  made  directly  to  the  very  place  where  he  had  killed 
seven  of  his  enemies,  and  was  taken  by  them  for  the 
fiery  torture.  He  digged  them  up,  scalped  them,  burned 
their  bodies  to  ashes,  and  went  home  in  safety  with 
singular  triumph.  Other  pursuing  enemies  came  on 
the  evening  of  the  second  day  to  the  camp  of  their  dead 
people,  when  the  sight  gave  them  a  greater  shock,  than 
they  had  known  before.  In  their  chilled  war  council, 
they  concluded  that  as  he  had  done  such  surprising 
things  in  his  defence,  before  he  was  captivated,  and 
since  that  in  his  naked  condition  and  was  now  well 
armed,  if  they  continued  the  pursuit,  he  would  spoil 
them  all,  for  he  surely  was  an  enemy  wizard.  And 
therefore  they  returned  home. 


(  316  ) 


si ' 


J 


When  the  Chikkasah  were  engaged  in  a  former  war 
with  the  Muskohge,  one  of  their  young  warriors  set  off 
alone  against  them  to  revenge  the  blood  of  a  near  relation: 
his  burning  heart  would  not  allow  him  to  delay  its  grati- 
fication, and  proceed  with  a  company,  after  tlieir  usual 
forms  of  purification  were  observed,  in  order  to  gain  suc- 
cess. He  was  replete  with  martial  fire,  and  revenge 
prompted  him  to  outrun  his  war  virtue:  however,  he 
pursued  as  mortifying  a  regimen,  as  if  he  had  been  fed 
like  a  dove,  by  the  scanty  hand  of  a  religious  waiter. 
But,  as  he  would  not  wait  a  few  days  and  accompany 
the  reputed  holy  ark,  they  reckoned  him  irreligious,  by 
depending  on  the  power  of  his  own  arms,  instead  of  the 
supreme  fatherly  chieftain,  Yo  He  Wah,  who  always  be- 
stows victory  on  the  more  virtuous  party.  He  went 
through  the  most  unfrequented  and  thick  parts  of  the 
woods,  as  such  a  dangerous  enterprize  required,  till  he 
arrived  opposite  to  the  great  and  old  beloved  town  of 
a  refuge,  Koosah,  which  stands  high  on  the  eastern  side 
of  a  bold  river,  about  250  yards  broad,  that  runs  by  the 
late  dangerous  Alebahma  fort,  down  to  the  black  poison- 
ing Mobille,  and  so  into  the  gulph  of  Mexico.  Tiiere  he 
concealed  himself  under  cover  of  the  top  of  a  fallen  pine 
tree,  in  view  of  the  ford  of  the  old  trading  path,  where 
the  enemy  now  and  then  passed  the  river  in  their  light 
poplar  canoes.  All  his  war  store  of  provisions  consisted 
in  three  stands  of  barbicued  venison,  till  he  had  an  op- 
portunity to  revenge  blood,  and  return  home.  He  waited 
with  watchfulness  and  patience  almost  three  days,  when 
a  young  man,  a  woman  and  a  girl  passed  a  little  wide 
of  him,  about  an  hour  before  sun  set.  The  former  he 
shot  down,  tomahawked  the  other  two,  and  scalped  each 
of  them  in  a  trice,  in  full  view  of  the  town.    By  way  of 


(317  ) 

br  tvado,  he  shaked  the  scalps  before  them,  sounded  the 
awful  death  whoop,  and  set  off  along  the  trading  path, 
trusting  to  his  heels,  while  a  great  many  of  the  enemy 
ran  to  their  arms  and  gave  chace.  Seven  miles  from 
thence,  he  entered  the  great  Apalahche  mountains. 
About  an  hour  before  day,  he  had  ran  over  seventy 
miles  of  that  mountainous  tract;  then,  after  sleeping  two 
hours  in  a  sitting  posture,  leaning  his  back  against  a 
tree,  he  set  off*  again  with  fresh  speed.  As  he  threw  away 
his  venison  when  he  found  himself  pursued  by  the 
enemy,  he  was  obliged  to  supi)ort  nature  with  such 
herbs,  roots,  and  nuts,  as  his  sharp  eyes  with  a  running 
glance,  directed  him  to  snatch  up  in  his  course.  Though 
I  often  have  rode  that  war  path  alone,  when  delay  might 
have  proved  dangerous,  and  with  as  fine  horses  as  any 
in  America,  it  took  me  five  days  to  ride  from  the  afore- 
said Koosah,  to  this  sprightly  warriors  place  in  the  Chik- 
kasah  countr}',  the  distance  of  three  hundred  computed 
miles;  yet  he  ran  it,  and  got  home  safe  and  well,  at  about 
eleven  o'clock  of  the  third  day:  which  was  only  one  day 
and  a  half,  and  two  nights. 


When  the  Indians  have  finished  their  cajjtive  trage- 
dies, they  return  to  the  neighbouring  town  in  triumph, 
with  the  wild  shrieking  noise  of  destroying  demons: 
there  they  cut  the  scalps  into  several  pieces,  fix  them  on 
different  twigs  of  tlie  green  leaved  ])ine,  and  ])lace  them 
on  the  tops  of  the  circular  winter  iiouses  of  their  deceased 
relations — whose  deaths  (  if  by  the  hand  of  an  enemy ) 
they  esteemed  not  revenged  till  then,  and  thus  their 
ghosts  are  enabled  to  go  to  their  intermeditite,  but  un- 
known place  of  rest,  till  after  a  certain  time,  they  return 
to  live  forever  in  that  tract  of  land  which  pleased  them 


*'  'i 


i 


V  'i,      f 


(  318  ) 

best,  when  in  their  former  state.  They  perform  this 
supposed  relij^ious  duty  with  great  solemnity,  attended 
by  a  long  train  of  rejoicing  women,  chanting  with  soft 
voices  their  grateful  song  of  triumph  to  Yo  He  Wah; 
while  the  favoured  warriors  echo  their  praises  of  the 
giver  of  victory,  with  awful  notes,  and  intermix  with 
them  the  death  whoo-whoop.  They  dance  for  three  days 
and  nights,  rejoicing  before  the  divine  presence,  for  their 
victory  ;  and  the  happiness  of  sending  the  spirits  of  their 
killed  relations  from  the  caves  of  their  houses  which 
they  haunted,  mourning  with  such  painfu'  xiotes  as  Koo- 
Koo-Koo,  like  the  suffering  owls  of  nir  Ut  in  pinching 
winter,  according  to  their  creed.  In  t'.ieir  dance,  they 
represent  all  the  wild  cat  movements  they  made  in 
crawling  to  surprise  the  enemy,  and  their  wolfish  con- 
duct in  killing  with  safety ;  or  the  whole  engagement, 
when  they  could  no  way  attack  by  surprise.  Now,  they 
Uft  up  one  foot,  then  put  it  down  slowly  on  tip  toe  in  a 
bent  posture,  looking  sharply  every  way.  Thus,  they 
proceed  from  tree  to  tree,  till  the  sup])osed  enemy  be 
either  defeated  by  stratagem,  or  open  battle.  Then  they 
strut  about  in  parade,  and  the  chief  will  tell  the  people 
he  did  not  behave  like  a  blind  white  man,  who  would 
have  rushed  on  with  his  eyes  shut,  improvident  of  dan- 
ger; but  having  wisely  considered  that  his  bare  breast 
was  not  bullet  proof,  he  cunningly  covered  himself  from 
tree  to  tree,  and  by  this  skilful  conduct  vanquished  the 
hateful  enemy,  without  exposing  his  own  valuable  life 
to  danger.  All  })eople  praise  or  blame  another's  conduct 
in  proportion  to  the  parity  or  disparity  it  bears  to  their 
own  standard  and  notion  of  virtue. 

In  the  time  of  their  rejoicings,  they  fix  a  certain  day 
for  the  warriors  to  be  crowned ;  for  they  cannot  sleep  sound 


(319  ) 


or  easy,  under  an  old  title,  while  a  new  or  higher  one  is 
due.  On  that  long  wished  for  day,  they  all  appear  on 
the  field  of  parade,  as  fine  and  cheerful  as  the  birds  in 
spring.  Their  martial  drums  beat,  their  bloody  colours 
are  displayed,  and  most  of  the  young  people  are  danc- 
ing and  rejoicing,  for  the  present  success  of  their  nation, 
and  the  safe  return  and  preferment  of  their  friends  and 
relations.  Every  expectant  warrior  on  that  Joyful  day 
wears  deer  skin  maccaseens,  painted  red,  his  body  is 
anointed  with  bears  oil,  a  young  softened  otter-skin  is 
tied  on  each  leg,  a  long  collar  of  fine  swan  feathers 
hangs  round  his  neck,  and  his  face  is  painted  with 
various  streaks  of  the  rain-bow.  Thus  they  appear, 
when  two  of  the  old  magi  come  forth  holding  as  many 
white  wands  and  crowns,  as  there  are  warriors  to 
be  graduated;  and  in  a  standing  posture,  they  alter- 
nately deliver  a  long  oration  with  great  vehemence  of 
expression,  chiefly  commending  their  strict  observance 
of  the  law  of  purity,  while  they  accompanied  the 
beloved  ark  of  war,  which  induced  the  supreme  chieftain 
to  give  them  the  victory,  and  they  encourage  the  rest  to 
continue  to  thirst  after  glory,  in  imitation  of  their  brave 
ancestors  who  died  nobly  in  defence  of  their  country. 
At  the  conclusion  of  their  orations,  one  of  the  magi  calls 
three  times  with  a  loud  voice,  one  of  the  warriors  by  his 
new  name,  or  war  title,  and  holds  up  the  white  crown, 
and  the  sceptre  or  wand.  He  then  gladly  answers,  and 
runs  whooping  to  and  around  them,  three  times.  One 
of  the  old  beloved  men  puts  the  crown  on  his  head  and 
the  wand  into  his  hand;  then  he  returns  to  his  former 
place,  whooping  with  joy.  In  like  manner  they  pro- 
ceed with  the  rest  of  the  graduate  warriors,  to  the  end 
of  their  triumphal  ceremony,  concluding  with  this  strong 


if  1 


i 


I 


■  m 


m 


i 


(  320  ) 

caution  "  Remember  what  you  are  (  such  a  warrior,  men- 
tioning his  titles)  according  to  the  old  beloved  speech." 
This  is  equal  to  the  bold  virtuous,  lessons  ^  the  honest 
Romans  and  uncorruptcd  Greeks.  The  concluding  cau- 
tion of  the  magi  to  the  warriors,  points  at  ihe  different 
duties  of  their  honorable  station,  that  they  should  always 
aspire  after  martial  glory,  and  prefer  their  own  virtue, 
and  the  welfare  of  their  country,  more  than  life  itself. 
The  crown  is  wrought  round  with  the  long  feathers  of  a 
swan,  at  the  lower  end,  where  it  surrounds  his  temples, 
and  it  is  curiously  weaved  with  a  quantity  of  white 
down,  to  make  it  sit  easy,  and  appear  more  beautiful. 
To  this  part  that  wreathes  his  brows,  the  skilful  artists 
warps  close  together,  a  ringlet  of  the  longest  feathers  of 
V\e  swan,  and  turning  them  carefully  upward,  in  an 
uniform  position,  he  in  the  exactest  manner,  ties  them 
together  with  deers  sinews  so  as  the  ])andage  will  not  ap- 
pear to  the  sharpest  eyes  without  handling  it.  It  is  a 
little  open  at  tlie  top  and  about  fifteen  inches  high.  The 
The  crowns  they  use  in  constituting  war-loaders,  are  al- 
ways worked  with  feathers  of  the  tail  of  the  cherubic 
eagle,  which  causes  them  to  be  three  or  four  inches  higher 
than  the  former.  This  latter  custom  bears  a  striking  re- 
semblance to  the  usage  of  the  ancients  on  similar  oc- 
casions, according  to  the  constitution  of  their  different 
forms  of  government. 

They  are  exceeding  j>ainted  against  our  methods  of 
war,  and  conferring  of  titles.  By  the  surprising  conduct 
of  a  Georgia  governor  l)oththe  Muskohgeond  Cheerake, 
who  attended  our  army  in  the  war  before  the  last,  against 
St.  Augustine,  have  entertained,  and  will  continue  to 
have  the  meanest  opinion  of  the  Carolina  martial  dis- 
position, till  by  some  notable  brave  actions,  it  wears  off. 


T 


C  321  ) 

The  Indians  concluded  that  therc  was  treachery  in  our 
letting  prisoners  of  distinction  return  to  the  fort  to  put 
the  rest  on  their  guard,  and  in  our  shutting  up  the  bat- 
teries for  four  or  five  days  successively,  not  having  our 
cannon  dismounted  nor  annoying  the  enemy,  but  hav- 
ing flags  of  truce  passing  and  repassing.  They  said,  it 
was  plain  to  their  eyes,  we  only  managed  a  sham  fight 
with  the  Spaniards — and  they  became  very  uneasy,  and 
held  many  conferrences  about  our  friendly  intercourse 
with  the  garrison ;  concluding  that  we  liad  decoyed  them 
down  to  be  slaughtered,  or  delivered  to  the  Spaniard  to 
purchase  a  firm  peace  for  ourselves — and  they  no  socmer 
reached  their  own  countries,  than  they  reported  the  whole 
affair  in  black  colours,  that  we  allured  them  to  a  far  dis- 
tant place,  where  we  gave  them  only  a  small  (juantity 
of  bad  food;  and  that  they  were  obliged  to  drink  saltish 
water,  which  instead  of  allaying,  inflamed  their  thirst, 
while  we  were  carousing  with  various  liquors,  and  shak- 
ing hands  with  the  Spaniard,  and  sending  the  white  be- 
loved speech  to  one  another,  by  beat  of  drum,  although 
we  had  the  assurance  to  affirm  that  we  held  fast  tlie 
bloody  tomahawk.  The  minutest  circumstance  was  so 
strongly  represented,  that  both  nations  were  on  the  very 
point  of  commencing  war  against  us.  But  the  ''  Raven" 
of  Euwase,  a  leading  head  warrior  of  the  Cheerakc!,  was 
confined  in  Augusta  garrison,  till  he  sent  up  runners  to 
stop  a  war,  that  his  speeches  and  messages  had  nearly 
fomented — his  life  was  threatened  on  failure  and  he  had 
large  promises  given,  if  he  complied  and  succeeded. 


Providence  hath  furnished  even  the  uncultivated  parts 
of  America  with  sufficient  to  supply  the  calls  of  nature. 
Formerly,  about  fifty  miles  to  the  worth  east  -of  tlwj 


^^! 


y^ 


fl^ 


y  I 


(  322  ) 

Chikkasah  country,  I  saw  the  chief  part  of  the  main 
camp  of  the  Shawano,  consisting  of  about  450  persong» 
on  a  tedious  ramble  to  the  Muskohge  country,  where 
they  settled,  seventy  miles  above  the  Alebahma  garrison : 
they  had  been  straggling  in  the  woods  for  the  space  of 
four  years,  as  they  assured  me,  yet  they  were  more  cor- 
pvdent  than  the  Chikkasah  who  accompanied  me,  not- 
withstanding they  had  lived  during  that  time,  on  the 
wild  products  of  the  American  desarts.  This  evinces 
how  easily  nature's  wants  are  supplied,  and  that  the  di- 
vine goodness  extends  to  America  and  its  inhabitants. 
They  are  acquainted  with  a  great  many  herbs  and  roots, 
of  which  the  general  i)art  of  the  English  have  not  the 
least  knowledge.  If  an  Indian  were  driven  out  into  an 
extensive  woods,  with  only  a  knife  and  tomahawk,  or  a 
small  hatchet,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  but  he  would  fat- 
ten, even  where  a  wolf  would  starve.  He  could  soon 
collect  fire  by  rubbing  two  drj'  pieces  of  wood  together, 
make  a  bark  hut,  earthen  vessels,  and  a  bow  and  arrows; 
then  kill  wild  game,  fish,  fresh  water  tortoises,  gather  a 
plentiful  variety  of  vegetables,  and  live  in  aflluence. 
Formerly,  they  made  their  knives  of  fiint-stone  or  of 
split  canes;  and  sometimes  they  are  now  forced  to  use 
the  like,  in  fiaying  wild  animals,  when  in  their  winter 
hunt  they  have  the  misfortune  to  lose  tlieir  knives. 

I  shall  mention  one  instance,  which  will  confirm 
what  I  have  said  of  their  surprising  skill  and  ability  of 
living  in  desarts  inhabited  only  by  wild  beasts.  In  the 
winter  of  the  year  1 747,  one  of  the  Chikkasah  traders  went 
from  home,  about  ton  miles,  acconipanied  only  by  a 
negro ;  six  of  the  miles  was  an  old  waste  field,  which  the 
Chikkasah  formerly  had  settled,  when  they  were  more 
numerous.    On  their  return  home,  within  two  miles  of 


(  323  ) 


by  a 
1  the 


the  outer  houses,  while  riding  carelessly  near  two  steep 
gullies,  there  stood  a  couple  of  Canada  Indians  behind 
a  tree,  (besides  two  others  a  little  way  off)  within  a  few 
yards  of  the  path,  with  their  trunk  guns,  watching  two 
boys  then  in  sight — when  the  trader  and  his  servant 
came  abreast  of  them,  the  negroe's  horse  received  a  mor- 
tal shot,  and  after  carrying  him  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  on 
leaping  a  difficult  pass,  he  fell  dead  on  the  spot;  the 
rider's  heels  carried  him  the  rest  of  the  way  safe :  but 
unluckily  it  did  not  fare  so  well  with  the  gentleman,  for 
as  he  rode  a  young  Choktah  horse,  which  had  been  used 
only  to  a  rope  round  his  neck,  the  reining  him  with  a 
bridle,  checked  him,  and  the  French  savages  had  an  op- 
portunity to  give  the  gentleman  two  mortal  wounds, 
with  brass-barbed  arrows,  the  one  in  the  belly,  and  the 
other  a  little  below  the  heart;  beside  two  others  in  his 
left  shoulder.  His  horse  being  frightened,  sprung  off 
at  full  speed,  and  brought  him  home.  The  gentleman 
in  his  rapid  course  twisted  the  murdering  arrows  out  of 
his  bowels,  but  could  not  reach  those  that  were  deeply 
lodged  in  his  shoulder.  He  lived  two  nights  and  a  day 
after  this  in  most  excjuisite  tortures,  but  sensible  to  the 
last;  when  he  had  forcibly  kept  down,  a  considerable 
time  on  the  bed,  he  entreated  in  the  most  importunate 
manner,  to  be  helped  to  lean  his  back  against  the  wall, 
and  it  would  give  him  ease.  At  my  recjuest  it  was  al- 
lowed him — he  immediatc^ly  exi)ired,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped,  that,  according  to  his  desire,  he  immediately  en- 
tered into  eternal  rest.  While  he  lay  a  corpse,  and  till 
we  the  next  day  buried  him,  the  Indians  were  silent 
and  almost  invisible.  The  negro  and  his  master,  as  soon 
as  they  discovered  the  Canadians,  put  up  the  shrill 
whoop,  l)oth  to  warn  the  Chikkasah,  and  draw  them 


i 

w 


J;1 


]i  i 


(  324  ) 

against  the  enemy ;  this  made  the  two  boys  to  stretch 
home,  which  they  did  a  little  before  sunset.  But  the 
lateness  of  the  day  prevented  our  friends  pursuing  till 
next  morning.  By  the  distance  the  enemy  ran  in  the 
night,  they  for  that  time  evaded  their  eager  pursuers. 
Some  went  to  the  place  of  ambuscade,  and  found  that 
the  enemy  being  disappointed  of  the  prey  falling  into  their 
hands,  had  pursued  till  they  came  up  with  the  negro's 
horse,  which  they  had  chopped,  and  the  saddle,  with 
their  tomahawks,  all  to  pieces  However,  about  half 
way  between  the  Chikkasah  country  and  Illinois,  three 
old  Chikkasah  warriors,  on  their  way  to  join  the  main 
camp,  came  up  with  those  Canadians  in  wet  brushy 
ground;  they  closely  chased  them  for  several  miles,  and 
forced  them  by  degrees  to  throw  away  everything  they 
carried,  and  seek  their  safety  by  leapuig  quite  naked 
into  a  deep  and  broad  creek,  that  was  much  frozen  on 
the  two  banks;  it  was  for  some  time  imagined  they  had 
perished  in  the  woods  by  the  severity  of  winter,  but  we 
were  well  informed  afterwards,  that  like  hardy  beasts  of 
prey,  they  got  safe  home. 


The  inside  of  their  houses  is  furnished  with  genteel 
couches  to  sit,  and  lie  upon,  raised  on  four  forks  of 
timber  of  a  proper  height,  to  give  the  swarming  fleas 
some  trouble  in  their  attack,  as  they  are  not  able  to 
reach  them  at  one  spring:  they  tie  with  fme  oak 
splinters,  a  sulhcient  quantity  of  middle-sized  canes  of 
proper  dimensions,  to  three  or  four  bars  of  the  same 
sort,  which  they  fasten  above  the  frame;  and  they  put 
their  matrasses  a-top,  which  are  made  of  long  cane 
splinters.  Their  bedding  consists  of  the  skins  of  wild 
beasts,  such  as  buffalos,  panthers,  bears,  elks,  and  deer, 


summ 


nna 


(  325  ) 

which  they  dress  with  the  hair  on,  as  soft  as  velvet. 
Their  male  children  they  chuse  to  raise  on  the  skins  of 
the  panthers,  on  account  of  the  communicative  prin- 
ciple, which  they  reckon  all  nature  is  possessed  of,  in 
conveying  qualities  according  to  the  regimen  that  is  fol- 
lowed :  and,  as  the  panther  is  endued  with  many  (quali- 
ties, beyond  many  of  his  fellow  animals  in  the  Ameri- 
can woods,  as  smelling,  strength,  cunning,  and  a  j)ro- 
digious  spring,  they  reckon  such  a  bed  is  the  first 
rudiments  of  war.  But  it  is  worthy  of  notice,  they 
change  the  regimen  in  nurturing  their  young  females; 
these  they  lay  on  the  skins  of  fawns,  or  buffalo  calves, 
because  they  are  shy  and  timorous:  and,  if  the  mother 
be  indisposed  by  sickness,  her  nearest  female  relation 
suckles  the  child,  but  only  till  she  recovers.  This  prac- 
tice gives  a  friendly  lesson  to  such  mothers,  who,  ostrich 
like,  as  soon  as  the  tender  infant  sucks  in  the  first  breath 
of  air,  commit  it  to  the  swarthy  breasts  of  the  firtid 
African  to  graft  it  on  her  gross  stock. 


Formerly  the  Indians  made  very  handsome  carpets. 
They  have  a  wild  hemp  that  grows  about  six  feet  high, 
in  open,  rich,  level  lands,  and  which  usually  ripens  in 
July:  it  is  plenty  on  our  frontier  settlements.  When  it 
is  fit  for  use,  they  pull,  steep,  peel,  and  b(  at  it;  and  the 
old  women  spin  it  off  the  distaffs,  with  wooden  ma- 
chines, having  some  clay  on  the  middle  of  them  to 
hasten  the  motion.  V»'nen  the  coarse  thread  is  prepared, 
they  put  it  into  a  frame  about  six  feet  square,  and  in- 
stead of  a  shuttle,  they  thrust  through  the  thread  with 
a  long  cane,  having  a  large  string  through  the  web, 
which  they  shift  at  every  second  course  of  the  thread. 
When  they  have  thus  finished  their  arduous  labour, 
21 


(  32G  ) 


m 


they  paint  each  side  of  the  carpet  with  such  figures,  of 
various  colours,  as  their  fruitful  imaginations  devise; 
particularly  the  images  of  those  birds  and  beasts  they 
are  acquainted  with;  and  likewise  of  themselves,  acting 
in  thfi^*  social  and  martial  stations.  There  is  a  due 
pjfopoiL  )n,  and  so  much  wild  variety  in  the  design  that 
would  really  strike  a  curious  eye  with  pleasure  and  ad- 
miration. J.  W — t,  Esq.,  a  most  skilful  linguist  in  the 
Muskohge  dialect,  assures  me  that  time  out  of  mind 
they  !.*«Sf;'".i  the  woof  with  a  shuttle;  and  they  have  a 
couplv.  01  tli^'^ddlGB,  which  they  move  with  the  hand  so 
as  to  euftbie  luem  to  make  good  dispatch,  something 
Lf^ej  our  mannc'i  »»f  weaving.  This  is  sufliciently  con- 
firoiod  I'j  i^cir  s  luod  of  working  broad  garters, 
sashes,  shot-poucL* »,  .  •  .;'l  belts,  and  the  like,  which 
are  decorated  all  over  with  beautiful  stripes  and 
chequers.  Probably,  their  method  of  weaving  is  similar 
to  the  practice  of  the  eastern  nations,  when  they  came 
from  thence,  during  the  infant  state  of  arts  and  sciences. 
People  who  were  forced  to  get  their  daily  bread  in  the 
extensive  desarts  with  their  bows  and  arrows,  and  by 
gathering  herbs,  roots,  and  nuts,  would  not  be  fond  of 
making  new  experiments,  but  for  the  necessities  of  com- 
mon life;  and  certainly  they  would  not  have  chosen  a 
more  troublesome  method  of  clothing  themselves,  if 
they  knew  an  easier  or  quicker  manner  of  effecting  it — 
whoever  knows  any  thing  of  an  Indian,  will  not  accuse 
hip^  of  that  sin. 

Tiie  women  are  the  chief  if  not  the  only  manufac- 
turers ;  the  men  judge  that  if  they  performed  that  otRce, 
it  would  exceedingly  depreciate  them.  The  weight  of 
the  oar  lies  on  the  women  as  is  the  case  with  the  German 
Americans.     In  the  winter  season,  the  women  gather 


mmmmmmmm^^m^m^ 


mufac- 

office, 

[ight  of 

rerman 

gather 


(  32V  ) 

buffalo's  hair,  a  sort  of  coarse  brown  curled  wool;  and 
having  spun  it  as  fine  as  they  can,  and  properly  doubled 
it,  they  put  small  beads  of  dift'erent  colours  upon  the 
yarn,  as  they  work  it:  the  figures  they  work  in  those 
small  webs,  are  generally  uniform,  but  sometimes  they 
diversify  them  on  both  sides.  The  Choktah  weave  shot 
pouches,  which  have  raised  work  inside  and  outside. 
They  likewise  make  turkey  feather  blankets  with  the 
long  feathers  of  the  neck  and  breast  of  that  large  fowl — 
they  twist  the  inner  end  of  the  feathers  very  fast  into  a 
strong  double  thread  of  hemp,  or  the  inner  bark  of  the 
mulberry  tree,  of  the  size  and  strength  of  coarse  twine, 
as  the  fibres  are  sufficiently  fine,  and  they  work  it  in  the 
manner  of  fine  netting.  As  the  feathers  are  long  and 
glittering,  this  sort  of  blankets  is  not  only  very  warm, 
but  pleasing  to  the  eye. 

They  make  beautiful  stone  pipes :  and  the  Cheerako 
the  best  of  any  of  the  Indians:  for  their  mountainous 
country  contains  many  different  sorts  and  colours  of 
soils  proper  for  such  uses.  They  easily  form  them  with 
their  tomahawks,  and  afterward  finish  them  in  any  de- 
sired form  with  their  knives ;  the  pipes  l)eing  of  a  very 
soft  quality  till  they  are  smoked  with,  and  used  to  the 
fire,  when  they  become  quite  hard  They  are  often  a 
full  span  long,  and  the  bowls  are  about  half  as  large 
again  as  those  of  our  English  pipes.  The  fore  part  of 
each  commonly  runs  out  with  a  sharp  peak,  two  or  three 
fingers  broad,  and  a  (quarter  of  an  inch  thick — on  both 
sides  of  the  bowl,  lengthwise,  they  cut  several  pictures 
with  a  great  deal  of  skill  and  labour;  sucli  as  a  buffalo 
and  a  panther  on  the  opposite  sides  of  the  bowl ;  a  rab- 
bit and  a  fox;  and  very  often,  a  man  and  a  woman  purls 
naturalibus.     Their  sculpture  cannot   much   be    com- 


t  1 


* 


i 


(  328  ) 

mended  for  its  modesty.  The  savages  work  so  slow,  that 
one  of  their  artists  is  two  months  at  a  pipe  with  his 
knife,  before  he  finishes  it;  indeed,  as  before  observed, 
they  are  great  enemies  to  profuse  sweating,  and  are  never 
in  a  hurry  about  a  good  thing.  The  stems  are  com- 
monly made  of  soft  wood  about  two  feet  long  and  an 
inch  thick,  cut  into  four  squares,  each  scooped  till  they 
join  very  near  the  hollow  of  the  stem  :  the  beaus  always 
hollow  the  squares,  except  a  little  at  each  corner  to  hold 
them  together,  to  which  they  fasten  a  parcel  of  bell 
buttons,  different  sorts  of  fine  feathers,  and  several  small 
battered  pieces  of  copper  kettles  hammered,  round  deer- 
skin thongs,  and  a  red  painted  scalp;  this  is  a  boasting, 
valuable  and  superlative  ornament.  According  to  their 
standard,  such  a  pipe  constitutes  the  possessor,  a  grand 
beau.  They  so  accurately  carve,  or  paint  hieroglyphic 
characters  on  the  stem,  that  all  the  war  actions,  and  the 
tribe  of  the  owner,  with  a  great  many  circumstances  of 
things  are  fully  delineated.  This  may  seem  strange  to 
those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  ancient  skill  of  the 
Egyptians  this  way,  and  the  present  knowledge  of  the 
Turkish  mutes.  But  so  it  is,  and  there  is  not  perhaps 
the  like  number  of  mimic  mutes  on  the  face  of  the  earth, 
nor  ever  were  among  the  old  Greek  or  Roman  Panto- 
mimi,  as  with  the  Indian  Americans,  for  representing 
the  great  and  minute  things  of  life,  by  different  gestures, 
movements  of  the  body  and  expressive  countenances; 
and  at  the  same  time  they  are  perfectly  understood  by 
each  other. 

They  make  the  handsomest  clothes  baskets,  I  ever  saw 
considering  their  materials.  They  divide  two  large 
swamp  canes,  into  long,  thin,  narrow  splinters,  which 
they  dye  of  several  colours,  and  manage  the  workman- 


|.| 


w 


(  329  ) 

ship  so  well,  that  both  the  inside  and  outside  are  cov- 
ered with  a  beautiful  variety  of  pleasing  figures:  and 
though  for  the  space  of  two  inches  below  the  upper 
edge  of  each  basket,  it  is  worked  into  one,  through  the 
other  parts  they  are  worked  asunder,  as  if  they  were  two 
joined  a-top  by  some  strong  cement.  A  large  nest  con- 
sists of  eight  or  ten  baskets,  contained  within  each  other. 
Their  dimensions  are  different,  but  they  usually  make 
the  outside  basket  about  a  foot  deep,  a  foot  and  a  half 
broad,  and  almost  a  yard  long. 

The  Indians,  by  reason  of  our  supplying  them  so 
cheap  with  every  sort  of  goods,  have  forgotten  the  chief 
part  of  their  ancient  mechanical  skill,  so  as  not  to  be 
well  able  now,  at  least  for  some  years,  to  live  independ- 
ent of  us.  Formerly  those  baskets  which  the  Cheerake 
made,  were  so  highly  esteemed  even  in  South  Carolina, 
the  politest  of  our  colonics,  for  domestic  usefulness, 
beauty,  and  skilful  variety,  that  a  large  nest  of  them 
cost  upwards  of  a  moidore. 

They  make  earthen  pots  of  very  different  sizes,  so  as 
to  contain  from  two  to  ten  gallons,  large  pitchers  to  carry 
water;  bowls,  dishes,  platters,  basons,  and  a  prodigious 
number  of  other  vessels  of  such  antiquated  forms,  as 
would  be  tedious  to  describe,  and  impossible  to  name. 
Their  method  of  glazing  them,  is,  they  place  them  over 
a  large  fire  of  smoky  pitch  pine,  which  makes  them 
smooth  black  and  firm.  Their  lands  abound  with 
proper  clay,  for  that  use;  and  even  with  porcelain,  as 
has  been  proved  by  experiment. 

They  make  perhaps  the  finest  ])0wp,  and  smoothest 
barbed  arrows,  of  all  mankind.  On  the  point  of  them 
is  fixed  either  a  scooped  point  of  a  buck  horn,  or  turkey 
cock  spurs,  pieces  of  brass,  or  flint  stone.     The  latter 


'i  r^ 


It 


l\ 


•^  h 


'% 


,\ 


\  y 


p 


(  330  ) 

sort  our  fore-fathers  used,  which  our  witty  grandmothers 
call  elf-stones,  and  now  rub  the  cows  with,  that  are  so 
unlucky  as  to  be  shot  by  night  fairies.  One  of  those 
flint  arrow  points  is  reckoned  a  very  extraordinary  bless- 
ing in  a  whole  neighbourhood  of  old  women,  both  for 
the  former  cure,  as  well  as  a  preservative  against  every 
kind  of  bewitching  charm. 

No  people  are  more  expert  than  the  Indians  in  the 
use  of  fire-arms,  and  the  bow  and  quiver :  they  can  fresh 
stock  their  guns,  only  with  a  small  hatchet  and  knife, 
and  streighten  the  barrels,  so  as  to  shoot  with  proper 
direction.  They  likewise  alter,  and  fix  all  the  springs 
of  the  lock,  with  others  of  the  sort  they  may  have  out 
of  use;  but  such  a  job  costs  the  red  artist  about  two 
months  work. 

They  are  good  saddlers  for  they  can  finish  a  saddle 
with  their  usual  instruments,  without  any  kind  of  iron 
to  bind  the  work;  but  the  shape  of  it  is  so  antiquated 
and  mean,  and  so  much  like  those  of  the  Dutch  West 
Indians,  that  a  person  would  be  led  to  imagine  that  they 
had  formerly  met,  and  been  taught  the  art  in  the  same 
school.  The  Indians  provide  themselves  with  a  quantity 
of  white  oak  boards,  and  notch  them,  so  as  to  fit  the 
saddle-trees;  which  consist  of  two  pieces  before,  and 
two  behind,  crossing  each  other  in  notches,  about  two 
inches  below  the  top  ends  of  the  frame.  Then  they 
take  a  buftalo  green  hide,  covered  with  its  winter  curls, 
and  having  properly  shai)ed  it  to  the  frame,  they  sew  it 
with  large  thongs  of  the  same  skin,  as  tight  and  secure 
as  need  be;  when  it  is  thoroughly  dried,  it  appears  to 
have  all  the  properties  of  a  cuirass  saddle.  A  trimmed 
bear  skin  serves  for  a  pad;  and  formerly,  their  bridle 
was  only  a  rope  round  the  horse's  neck,  with  which  they 


\'. 


l{ 


II 


( 


331  ) 


guided  him  at  pleasure.    Most  of  the  Choktah  use  that 
method  to  this  day. 

It  is  strange  that  all  the  Indians  mount  a  horse  on 
the  off  side  as  we  term  it,  especially  as  their  horses  were 
originally  brought  from  p]urope.  In  the  Choktah  coun- 
try, when  I  was  going  to  a  great  ball  play,  at  a  con- 
siderable distance  off,  in  company  with  several  of  the 
head-warriors,  we  alighted  at  a  cool  stream  of  water,  to 
smoke  and  drink  parched  corn-flour  and  water,  ac- 
cording to  our  usual  custom  in  the  woods — when  we 
again  set  off,  we  jested  each  other  for  mounting  on  the 
wrong  side.  They  urged  it  was  most  natural,  and  com- 
modious to  put  the  right  foot  into  the  stirrup,  and  at 
the  same  time  lay  hold  of  the  mane  with  the  strongest 
hand,  instead  of  using  either  of  the  farthermost  or  op- 
posite ones,  as  they  term  the  left.  They  carried  it  against 
me  by  a  majority  of  voices,  whooping  and  laughing; 
but  as  they  were  boasting  highly  of  the  swiftness  of  their 
horses,  and  their  skill  in  riding  and  guiding  them,  much 
better  with  a  rope  than  with  the  bridle,  I  resolved  to 
convince  them  of  their  mistake:  for  as  the  horse  I  rode 
was  justly  named  Eagle,  and  reckoned  the  swiftest  of 
any  in  the  Chikkasah  country,  I  invited  them  to  a  trial 
by  way  of  diversion,  in  so  merry  a  season,  and  they  gladly 
accepted  the  offer.  We  ranged  ourselves  in  abroad  row, 
on  each  side  of  the  wood  path,  which  was  rather  narrow, 
and  crooked,  as  is  the  case  in  their  countries — they 
allowed  me  to  take  the  centre,  and  at  the  whoop  signal 
of  the  byc-standers  we  started.  My  horse  being  used  to 
such  diversions  soon  left  them  l)ehind  a  considerable 
distance;  presently  I  luckily  discovered  a  swami)y 
thicket,  a-head  on  my  right  hand,  which  ran  almost  our 
direct  course  alongside  of  a  creek.     As  the  wild  coursers 


t 


M 


(  332  ) 

chiefly  followed  one  another,  according  to  their  general 
custom,  I  there  flew  across,  and  led  two  of  them  off  the 
path,  into  the  thicket  covered  with  high  brambles.  I  had 
little  trouble  in  disposing  of  the  rest;  my  whooping,  and 
cracking  the  whip,  sent  each  of  them  along  with  his 
neighbour,  at  full  speed,  and  I  continued  them  so  a 
great  way;  for,  as  their  horses  were  frightened,  the 
riders  liad  no  command  over  them,  with  their  bonsted 
neck  bridles.  The  horses,  at  last,  brought  them  out  into 
the  open  woods,  to  their  great  joy,  when  they  whooped 
and  hallooed,  as  despising  what  they  had  undergone; 
they  were  however  in  a  dismal  pickle.  For  it  being 
their  custom  to  carry  their  ornaments,  and  looking 
glasses  over  tlieir  shoulder,  on  such  public  occasions, 
m}'  companions  were  fully  trimmed  out,  and  did  not 
strip  themselves,  as  they  expected  no  such  disaster.  By 
stooping  to  save  themselves  from  being  dismounted, 
their  favourite  looking  glasses  were  shattered  to  pieces, 
and  the  paint  mostly  rubbed  off  their  faces,  their  skins 
of  small  hawks,  and  tufts  of  fine  plumes,  torn  from 
their  heads,  and  their  other  ornaments,  as  well  as  their 
clothing  and  skin,  shared  also  in  the  misfortune.  As 
soon  as  they  could  stop  their  horses,  they  alighted;  and, 
when  I  had  done  laughing  at  them,  they  according  to 
custom,  said  only  La  j)hene,  "O  strange ! "  The  Indians 
are  very  happy  in  not  shewing  the  least  emotion  of 
anger,  for  any  mischance  that  befalls  them,  in  their 
sportful  exercises.  I  jested  them  in  commending  the 
swiftness  of  their  horses,  even  through  a  bramble  thicket, 
and  applauded  their  skill  in  sitting,  and  guiding  them 
so  well,  by  the  help  of  their  neck  bridles.  By  this  time, 
the  hindmost  of  our  company  came  up,  who  laughed 
heartily  at  the  sight  of  our  tattered  horsemen,  and  told 


(  338  ; 

them  that  they  expected  I  would  jockey  them  in  some 
such  manner.  But  the  young  ambitious  heroes  ascribed 
the  whole  disaster  only  to  the  viciousness  of  my  horse, 
saying  "  he  was  mad." 


I  shall  now  give  their  opinion  of  out  social  and  mili- 
tary virtues;  which  joined  with  the  foregoing  will  set 
the  Indians  in  a  yet  clearer  light.  We  can  trace  people 
by  their  opinion  of  things,  as  well  as  if  we  saw  them 
practise  them.  Most  of  them  blame  us  for  using  a 
provident  care  in  domestic  life,  calling  it  a  slavish 
temper;  they  say  we  are  covetous,  because  we  do  not 
give  our  poor  relations  such  a  share  of  our  possessions, 
as  would  keep  them  from  want.  Ther  are  but  few  of 
themselves  we  can  blame,  on  account  of  these  crimes, 
for  they  are  very  kind  and  liberal  to  every  one  of  their 
own  tribe,  even  to  the  last  morsel  of  food  they  enjoy. 
When  we  recriminate  on  the  pen  rious  temper  of  any 
of  their  people,  they  say,  if  our  accusation  be  true,  we 
by  our  ill  examples  tainted  them  on  that  head,  for  their 
fore-fathers  were  endued  with  all  the  virtues.  They 
frequently  tell  us,  that  though  we  are  possessed  of  a 
great  deal  of  yellow  and  white  stone,  of  black  people, 
horses,  cows,  hogs,  and  every  thing  else  our  hearts 
delight  in — yet  they  create  us  as  much  toil  and  pain,  as 
if  we  had  none,  instead  of  that  ease  and  pleasure,  which 
flow  from  enjoyment;  therefore  we  are  truly  poor,  and 
deserve  pity  instead  of  envy;  they  wish  some  of  their 
honest  warriors  to  have  these  things,  as  they  would  know 
how  to  use  them  aright,  without  placing  their  happiness, 
or  merit,  in  keeping  them,  which  would  be  of  great  ser- 
vice to  the  poor,  by  diffusing  them  with  a  liberal  hand. 
They  say,  they  have  often  seen  a  panther  in  the  woods, 


li 


p  ,J 


<i 


(  334  ) 

with  a  brace  of  large  fat  bucks  at  once,  near  a  cool  stream ; 
but  that  they  had  more  sense  than  to  value  the  beast,  on 
account  of  his  large  possessions :  on  the  contrary,  they 
hated  his  bad  principles  because  he  would  needlessly 
destroy,  and  covetously  engross  the  good  things  he  could 
not  use  himself,  nor  would  allow  any  other  creature  to 
share  of,  though  even  so  much  pinched  with  hunger. 
They  reckon,  if  we  made  a  true  estimate  of  things,  we 
should  consider  the  man  without  any  false  props,  and 
esteem  him  only  by  the  law  of  virtue,  which  enobles 
men  by  inspiring  them  with  good  sentiments  and  a  gen- 
erous disposition ;  they  say  the}'^  are  sure,  from  sundry 
observations,  we  sell  to  the  highest  bidder,  our  high  titles 
of  war,  which  were  only  due  to  brave  men  who  had  often 
fought  the  enemy  with  success  in  defence  of  their  coun- 
try ;  that  they  had  seen,  even  in  Charlestown,  several 
young,  lazy,  deformed  white  men,  with  big  bellies,  who 
seemed  to  require  as  much  help  to  move  them  nlong,  as 
over  grown  old  women ;  yet  they  understood  these  were 
paid  a  great  deal  of  our  beloved  yellow  stone  for  bearing 
the  great  name  of  warriors,  which  should  be  kept  sacred 
from  the  effeminate  tribe,  even  if  they  offered  to  pur- 
chase it  with  their  whole  possessions.  That  tliese  titles 
should  only  be  conferred  on  those  who  excel  in  martial 
virtue,  otherwise,  it  gives  a  false  copy  of  imitation  to  the 
young  warriors,  and  thereby  exposes  the  whole  body  of 
the  people  to  contempt  and  danger,  by  i)erverting  the 
means  which  ought  to  secure  their  lives  and  properties; 
for,  when  a  country  has  none  but  helpless  people  to 
guard  it  from  hostile  attempts,  it  is  liable  to  become  a 
prey  to  any  ambitious  persons,  who  may  think  })roper 
to  invade  it.  They  allow  that  corpulency  is  compatible 
with  marking  paper  black  with  the  goose  quill ;  and  with 


(  335  ) 


J  of 
the 
ties; 
to 


strong-mouthed  labour,  or  pleading  at  law ;  because  old 
women  can  sit  best  to  mark,  and  their  mouths  are  always 
the  most  sharp  and  biting.  But  they  reckon  if  our  war- 
riors had  gained  high  titles  by  personal  bravery,  they 
would  be  at  least  in  the  shape  of  men  if  not  of  active 
brisk  warriors :  for  constant  manly  exercise  keeps  a;  due 
temperament  of  body  and  a  just  proportion  of  shape. 
They  said,  some  were  not  fit  for  the  service  of  an  old 
woman,  much  less  for  the  difficult  and  lively  exercises 
which  manly  warriors  pursue  in  their  rough  element — 
that  they  could  never  have  gone  to  war,  but  bought  their 
beloved  broad  paper,  with  yellow  stone",  or  it  must  have 
passed  from  father  to  son,  like  the  rest  of  their  possess- 
ions; and  that  by  their  intemperate  method  of  eating 
and  drinking  without  proper  exercise,  they  had  trans- 
formed themselves  into  those  over-grown  shapes,  which 
our  weavers,  taylors  aiid  plaiters  of  false  hair,  rendered 
more  contemptible. 

The  old  men  tell  us,  they  remember  our  colonies  in 
their  infant  state — that  when  the  inhabitants  were  poor 
and  few  in  number,  they  maintained  prosperous  wars 
against  the  numerous  combined  nations  of  red  people, 
who  surrounded  them  on  all  sides  ;  because  in  those 
early  days,  the  law  of  reason  was  their  only  guide.  In 
that  time  of  simplicity,  they  lived  after  the  temperate 
manner  of  the  red  people.  They  copied  after  honest 
nature,  in  their  food,  dress  and  every  pursuit,  both  in 
domestic  and  social  life.  That  unerring  guivle  directed 
them  aright,  as  tlie  event  of  things  publicly  declared. 
But  time  is  now  grown  perverse  and  childisli,  and  has 
brought  with  it  a  Hood  of  corrupting  illy.  Instead  of 
observing  the  old  beloved  rule  of  temperance,  whi(!h 
their    honest  forefathers  strictly   pursued,  they   often 


▼' 


C  336  ) 

besot  themselves  with  base  luxury,  and  thereby  ener- 
Tate  all  their  manly  powers,  so  as  to  reduce  themselves 
to  the  state  of  old  women,  and  esteem  martial  virtue  to 
consist  in  the  unmanlv  bulk  of  their  bodies,  and  the 
fineness  and  colour  of  their  glittering  coats  and  jackets: 
whefeas  such  forms  and  habits  only  enable  the  red 
people  to  sort  the  large  buffaloes,  the  fine  feathered 
parroquets,  and  wood  peckers — their  religious,  civil  and 
martial  titles  are  conferred  on  the  lean,  as  well  as  the 
fat  bodied,  without  minding  whether  their  clothes  are 
coarse  or  fine,  or  what  colour  they  are  of.  They  say, 
their  titles  of  w^r  invariably  bespeak  the  man,  as  they 
always  make  them  the  true  attendants  of  merit,  never 
conferring  the  least  degree  of  honour  on  the  worthless. 
That  c»)rpulency,  or  a  very  genteel  outward  appearance 
would  be  so  far  from  recommending  any  as  war  leaders, 
that  those  qualities  would  render  them  suspected,  till 
they  gave  sufficient  proof  of  their  capacity  of  serving 
their  country — that  when  any  distinguished  themselves 
by  martial  virtue,  their  fine  clothes  reflected  new  beau- 
ties on  the  eyes  of  the  people,  who  regard  a  genteel 
appearance,  only  on  account  of  the  shining  virtues  of 
the  gallant  men  who  wear  them. 

They  often  ridicule  us,  in  our  gay  hours,  that  they 
have  observed  our  nominal  warriors  to  value  themselves 
on  those  unpleasant  shapes  and  undue  covering — that 
like  contemptible  shining  lizards,  they  swelled  their 
breasts  almost  as  big  as  their  bellies,  spoke  very  sharp 
to  the  poor  people  who  were  labouring  in  distress, 
frowned  with  ugly  faces  at  them  (whereas  they  ought 
to  have  smiled,  in  order  to  make  their  hearts  cheerful,") 
and  kept  them  off'  at  a  great  distance,  with  their  hats  in 
handy  as  if  they  were  black  people.    But  such  conduct, 


mtFmmmmm 


they 
olves 
-that 
their 
harp 
tr(3PS, 

3Ught 

rt'ul,) 
its  in 
duct, 


(  337  ) 

always  a  sure  token  of  cowardi-ce  testified  with  convine- 
ing  clearness,  they  were  unable  to  act  the  part  of  even 
an  honest  black  man.  The  Indians  imagine  the  cor- 
ruption is  become  too  general  to  be  cured,  without  a 
thorough  change  of  our  laws  of  war,  because  when  the 
head  is  sick  the  feet  cannot  be  well :  and  as  our  capital 
towns  and  regular  troops  are  much  infected  with  that 
depressing  and  shameful  malady,  they  reckon  our 
country  places  suffer  much  more  by  our  fat  fine  men- 
They  fail  not  to  flourish  away  as  much  in  their  own 
favour,  as  against  us,  saying  that  though  they  are  un- 
skilful in  making  the  marks  of  our  ugly  lying  books, 
which  spoil  people's  honesty,  yet  they  are  tiuly  taught 
in  the  honest  volumes  of  nature,  which  always  whisper 
in  their  ears,  a  strong  lesson  of  love  to  all  of  their  own 
family,  and  an  utter  contempt  of  danger  in  defence  of 
their  beloved  country,  at  their  own  private  cost ;  that  they 
confer  titles  of  honour  only  on  those  who  deserve  them 
— that  the  speaking  trophies  of  war  declare  the  true 
merit  of  their  contented  warriors,  without  having  the 
least  recourse  to  any  borrowed  help.  They  say  that 
the  virtue  even  of  their  young  women  does  not  allow 
them  to  bear  the  least  regard  to  any  of  th«  young  men, 
on  account  of  their  glittering  clothes,  and  that  none  of 
their  warriors  would  expect  it,  nor  their  laws  allow  it,  if 
ever  their  country  should  unhappily  produce  so  con- 
temptible an  animal.  Imitation  is  natural,  and  the  red 
people  follow  virtue  in  the  old  track  of  their  honest 
forefathers,  while  we  are  bewildered  by  evil  custom. 

As  their  own  affairs  lie  in  a  very  narrow  circle  it  is 
difficult  to  impress  them  with  a  favourable  opinion  of  the 
wisdom  and  justice  of  our  voluminous  laws — They  say 
if  our  laws  were  honest,  or  wisely  framed,  they  would  he 


1  1 

f 


vN 


I 


mm- 


■tRR! 


npiM 


(  338  ) 

plain  and  few,  that  the  poor  people  might  understand 
and  remember  them,  as  well  as  the  rich — That  right 
and  wrong,  an  honest  man  and  a  rogue,  with  as  many 
other  names  as  our  large  crabbed  books  could  contain, 
are  only  two  contraries;  that  simple  nature  enables  every 
person  to  be  a  proper  judge  of  promoting  good  and  pre- 
venting evil,  either  by  determinations,  rewards  or  pun- 
ishments; and  that  people  cannot  in  justice  be  accused 
of  violating  any  laws,  when  it  is  out  of  their  power  to 
have  a  proper  knowledge  of  them.  They  reckon,  that 
if  our  legislators  were  not  moved  by  some  oblique  views, 
instead  of  acting  the  part  of  mud-fish,  they  would  imi- 
tate the  skilful  bee,  and  extract  the  useful  part  of  their 
unwieldy,  confused,  old  lx)oks  and  insert  it  in  an  honest 
small  one,  that  the  poor  people  might  be  able  to  buy 
and  read  it,  to  enable  them  to  teach  their  rising  families 
to  avoid  snares,  and  keep  them  from  falling  into  the 
power  of  our  cunning  speakers — who  are  not  ashamed 
to  scold  and  lie  publicly  when  they  are  well  paid  for  it, 
but  if  interest  no  longer  tempted  them  to  inforce  hurt- 
ful lies  for  truth,  would  probably  throw  away  all  their 
dangerous  quibbling  books.  That  the  poor  people  might 
have  easy  redress  and  justice,  this  should  become  a  pub- 
lic concern,  and  the  Governor-Minggo,  all  the  head  war- 
riors, and  old  beloved  men  should  either  entirely  destroy 
those  books,  or  in  an  artful  manner  send  them  to  their 
enemy  the  French,  in  order  to  destroy  their  constitu- 
tion: but  they  were  of  opinion  common  sense  would  not 
allow  even  those  to  receive  them  under  any  pretext 
whatever — therefore  they  ought  to  be  burnt  in  the  old 
year's  accursed  fire.  By  that  means,  the  honest  poor 
could  live  in  peace  and  quiet;  for  now  they  were  unable 
by  poverty,  or  backward  by  their  honesty,  to  buy  justice, 


(  339  ) 


in  paying  those  people  of  cunning  lieads  and  strong 
mouths  to  speak  the  truth :  and  the  hearts  of  rich  knaves 
must  then  become  honest,  as  they  would  not  needlessly 
give  those  large  bribes  for  painting  their  black  actions 
with  a  white  colour. 

They  urge,  that  while  litigious,  expensive,  and  tedious 
suits  are  either  encouraged  by  our  artful  speakers,  or  al- 
lowed by  our  legislators,  the  honest  poor  man  will  al- 
ways be  a  great  loser;  which  is  a  crying  evil.  Because 
he  is  humble,  modest,  and  poor  his  feeble  voice  cannot 
be  heard.  The  combined  body  of  the  noisy  rich  must 
drown  his  complaints.  His  only  satisfaction  is  that  his 
heart  is  honest,  though  that  must  prove  a  very  small  com- 
fort to  a  wifecry  ing  over  helpless  children,  in  a  small  waste 
house.  They  say,  that  as  no  people  are  born  rogues, 
truth  appears  plain  enough :  for  its  native  dress  is  al- 
ways simple,  and  it  never  resides  in  troubled  waters, 
but  under  the  striking  beams  of  the  sun.  It  is  not  there- 
fore just,  either  to  compel  or  tempt  people  to  buy  justice ; 
it  should  be  free  to  all  as  the  poor  are  not  able  to  pur- 
chase it. 

They  affirm,  that  as  all  laws  should  be  enacted  by  the 
joint  voice  of  the  honest  j)art  of  the  society  for  mutual 
good,  if  our  great  chieftain  and  his  assistants  refuse  alter- 
ing those  that  are  hurtful  to  the  people,  we  ought  to  set 
them  aside  on  account  of  their  ill  principles,  and  for 
striving  to  support  their  own  bad  actions  by  bad  laws — 
that  as  wise  free  men,  we  should  with  all  speed  cFmse 
honest  men  in  their  room,  to  act  the  part  of  fathers  of 
their  country,  and  continue  them  just  as  long  as  they 
behaved  such :  for  leading  men  are  chosen  only  to  do 
good  to  the  people ;  and  whenever  they  make  a  breach 
of  their  trust,  injuring  the  public  good,  their  places  of 


V 


\1' 

i 


(  340) 


' 


course  become  vacant,  and  justly  devolve  to  the  people, 
who  conferred  them.  Our  law,  they  say,  condemns  little 
rogues,  but  why  should  it  spare  great  ones?  That  we 
hang  the  former  with  strong  ropes  of  hemp,  but  we 
should  first  do  so  too,  or  shorten  the  heads  of  the  latter, 
with  the  poisoned  tomahawk,  as  a  just  emblem  of  their 
mischievous  poisoning  conduct. 

I  told  them  that  the  essential  part  of  our  laws  was 
fixed  and  unalterable,  and  also  the  succession  of  each 
of  our  great  chieftains,  while  they  observe  them  faithfully, 
and  order  them  to  be  honestly  executed,  but  no  longer. 
That  formerly  when  the  people's  hearts  became  sorely 
aggrieved,  and  bitterly  vexed,  as  pride  for  unlimited 
power,  had  made  some  of  the  rulers  heads  giddy,  the 
enraged  community  had  shortened  some  of  them,  and 
drove  away  others  from  corrupting  the  beloved  land, 
without  any  possibility  of  returning  in  safety. 

The  ill  opinion  they  entertain  of  our  courts  of  judica- 
ture, may  have  risen  in  some  degree  from  the  wrong 
information  of  our  interpreters,  who  have  occasionally 
accompanied  them  to  the  courts;  but  they  generally 
retain  a  long  time  the  first  impressions  they  imbibe  from 
any  one  they  esteem.  One  law  cause  which  the  Chik- 
kasah  attended,  proved  tedious,  and  was  carried  contrary 
to  their  opinion  of  justice  and  equity:  on  their  return 
to  their  own  country,  they  said,  that  two  or  three  of  their 
old  women  would  have  brought  in  a  quicker,  and  honester 
verdict.  They  compared  our  counsellors  to  the  mercen- 
ary Choktah,  who  often  kill  people,  and  even  one  another, 
for  the  sa  (Ce  of  a  French  reward,  as  they  earnestly  strove 
to  draw  suffering  truth  to  their  own  side  of  the  debate, 
and  painted  it  contrary  to  its  native  form,  with  a  de- 
formed lying  face. 


(  341  ) 


people, 
18  little 
'hat  we 
but  we 
}  latter, 
)f  their 

W8  was 
of  each 
thfully, 
longer. 
}  sorely 
ilimited 
Idy,  the 
3m,  and 
d  land, 

'judica- 
!  wrong 
ion  ally 
nerally 
be  from 
Chik- 
ontrary 
return 
of  their 
onester 
ercen- 
nother, 
strove 
debate, 
h  a  de- 


They  tell  us,  that  when  their  head  men  are  deliberating 
on  public  affairs,  they  dispassionately  examine  things, 
and  always  speak  the  naked  truth ;  for  its  honest  face 
hates  a  mask,  having  nothing  to  hide  from  a  searching 
eye,  and  its  dress  plain  and  simple ;  that  people  can  as 
easy  distinguish  it  from  falsehood,  as  light  from  dark- 
ness, or  clear  and  wholesome  water  from  that  which 
is  turbid  and  hurtful,  without  giving  up  their  reason  to 
hired  speakers,  who  use  their  squint  eyes  and  forked 
tongues  like  the  chieftains  of  the  snakes,  (meaning  rattle- 
snakes) which  destroy  harmless  creatures  for  the  sake  of 
food.  They  say,  that  the  quotation  of  dark  quibbles  out 
of  their  old  books,  should  be  deemed  as  white  paint 
over  a  black  man's  face ;  or  as  black  over  what  is  natuntlly 
white.  They  wonder  that,  as  an  honest  cause  is  always 
plain,  judgment  is  not  given  freely  in  its  favour,  and 
without  the  least  delay;  and  insist,  that  every  bad  cause 
should  meet  with  a  suitable  and  severe  award,  in  order 
to  check  vice,  and  promote  virtue  in  social  life. 

One  of  the  red  Magi  asked  me,  whether  in  our  scold- 
ing houses,  we  did  not  always  proportion  the  charges  of 
the  suit  in  debate,  to  the  value  of  the  debt,  or  damages. 
Suggesting  that  it  was  wrong  to  make  a  perplexed  science 
of  granting  equity  with  any  charges  attending  it,  to 
honest  poor  people ;  that  we  should  pity  them  on  account 
of  the  distresses  they  labour  under,  and  not  in  effect 
enslave  or  fine  them  because  they  are  poor. 

I  told  him  and  the  rest  of  his  brethren  by  way  of 
excuse,  that  the  different  nature,  and  multiplicity  of 
contracts  in  our  great  trading  empire,  with  the  immense 
difference  that  often  happened  between  the  eloquence  and 
abilities  of  the  contending  i>arties,  re(iuired  a  scries  of 
decisions  of  right  and  wrong  to  be  recorded  in  books,  as 
22 


'  I 


(  342  ) 


fil 


■  t 


an  invariable  precedent  to  direct  future  public  determi- 
nations, in  disputes  of  the  like  nature;  thatmost  of  our 
people  were  unequal  to  each  other  in  fine  language  than 
the  bred  lawyers  :  and  that  none  were  so  fit  to  search, 
or  could  possibly  understand  those  registers  as  well  as 
they,  because  they  spent  the  chief  part  of  their  time  on 
such  subjects.  He  granted  they  might  be  useful  mem- 
bers of  the  community,  but  doubted  their  honesty  was 
too  much  exposed  to  the  alluring  temptations  of  our 
rich  people's  yellow  stone;  aind  that  though  our  fore- 
fathers were  no  doubt  as  wise  and  virtuous  as  we,  yet 
they  were  but  men,  and  sometimes  had  passions  to 
gratify,  especially  in  favour  of  a  worthy  and  unfortu- 
nate friend,  or  relation  who  was  beloved.  He  said,  the 
length  of  stealing  time  must  have  naturally  occasioned 
8uch  an  event;  and  that  our  wise  men  ought  to  be  so 
far  from  quoting  a  wrong  copy,  as  a  fixed  precedent, 
that  they  should  ernse  it  out  of  their  old  court  books, 
and  profit  by  the  foibles  of  the  old,  the  wise  and  the 
good. 

At  his  request,  I  spoke  also  of  our  skilful  physicians 
and  quack  doctors — I  told  him  that  the  former  com- 
monly cured  the  sick,  or  diseased,  unless  the  malady  was 
of  an  uncommon  nature,  or  very  dangerous  by  not  ap- 
plying in  time,  before  it  took  root  ])eyond  the  reach  of 
any  cure;  but  that  the  empirics  seldom  failed  of  poison- 
ing their  weak  patients  by  slow  degrees :  and  that  we 
had  old  women  likewise  who  frequently  did  much  good 
with  bare  simples.  He  said,  if  our  physicians  used 
simples  in  due  time,  to  assist  nature,  instead  of  burning 
corrosive  mixtures,  they  would  have  no  occasion  to  dis- 
member poor  people,  cutting  off  their  limbs  in  so  horrid 
a  manner,  as  several  were  reported  to  do;  and  that,  if 


etermi- 
t  of our 
^e  than 
search, 
well  as 
:ime  on 
1  mem- 
sty  was 
of  our 
iir  fore- 
we,  yet 
lions  to 
jnfortu- 
laid,  the 
:asioned 
0  be  so 
ecedent, 
■j  books, 
and  the 

ysicians 
er  com- 
ady  was 
not  ap- 
reach  of 
poison- 
that  we 
ch  good 
US  used 
urning 
to  dis- 
horrid 
that,  if 


(  343  ) 

our  law  was  so  weak  as  not  to  condemn  those  to  death ; 
who  took  away  the  lives  of  low  innocent  people,  yet  the 
strong  feelings  of  nature  ought  to  incite  the  surviving 
relations  of  the  murdered  persons,  to  revenge  their  blood 
on  the  murderers  by  beating  them  with  long  knobbed 
poles,  while  they  were  sensible  of  pain  and  as  soon  as 
they  recovered  a  little,  to  cut  off  their  ears  and  nose 
with  a  dull  knife,  as  in  the  case  of  adultery,  in  order  to 
quench  innocent  blood,  and  teach  unwary  people  to 
avoid  and  detest  the  execrated  criminals.  Here,  the  red 
audience  highly  applauded  the  wisdom  and  justice  of 
his  medical  observations,  because  they  exactly  corre- 
sponded with  their  own  standard  in  similar  cases. 

Well,  said  he,  you  have  given  us  plainly  to  understand 
the  high  esteem  the  English  bear  to  their  people  of  cun- 
ning heads  and  strong  mouths,  and  the  curers  of  ail- 
ments— If  the  former  continue  honest  when  they  have 
gained  deep  knowledge  in  their  old  books ;  and  the  lat- 
ter are  successful  in  the  killing,  or  healing  quality  of 
their  strong  medicines:  We  should  rejoice,  if  you  would 
likewise  inform  us,  according  to  your  written  traditions,  of 
the  rise  of  Oohache,  "bringers  of  rain,"  and  of  Tshtohoollo 
Echeto,^'' high  priests,  pope.?,  or  arch-bishops;"  whether 
the  supreme  fatherly  chieftain  gave  them  from  the  be- 
ginning to  the  white  people,  or  if  not,  how  he  came  to 
give  them  afterward  ;  and  whether  their  lives  give  virtu- 
ous lessons  to  youth,  to  induce  them  to  a  strict  observ- 
ance of  the  divine  law,  as  modesty  and  humility  should 
always  appear  in  the  speech  and  behaviour  of  i)ublic 
teachers,  on  account  of  their  charming  influence — In- 
form us  of  our  usefulness  in  religious  and  civil  life,  and 
the  general  opinion  of  the  disinterested  and  wise  part  of 
the  community  concerning  them ;  as  all  nations  of  red 


(344) 


•'I 


'i   I, 


people  have  lately  heard  a  great  deal  of  their  unpeace- 
able  if  not  cruel  disposition  towards  the  British  Ameri- 
cans, which  their  covetousness  of  heartit  is  said,  prompted 
them  to,  because  they  could  not  prevail  upon  them  by 
their  invented  speeches,  to  give  them  the  tenth  part  of 
the  yearly  produce  of  their  honest  labour — Let  us  know 
their  true  conduct  over  the  broad  water,  whether  they 
are  covetous  in  demanding  any  part  of  the  new  harvest; 
and  if  the  young  people  do  not  violate  the  marriage-law 
when  the  crops  fail  by  the  want  of  refreshing  rains? 

As  the  task  was  disagreeable,  I  told  him,  had  he  been 
so  particular  in  his  enquiries  concerning  the  two  former 
classes,  I  could  have  much  better  informed  him,  as  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  being  long  acquainted  with  many  of  them, 
who  were  learned,  wise,  and  benevolent,  in  a  very  great 
degree;  and  was  convinced  from  my  own  knowledge, 
that  several  of  them  not  only  earnestly  for  honest  poor 
people,  and  others  cured  them  of  their  lingering  ail- 
ments without  pay;  but  supplied  them  with  needful 
utensils  for  planting  provisions  for  their  small  families, 
till  they  could  conveniently  repay  the  value,  in  their 
own  produce :  but  that  as  I  neither  had  not  desired  the 
least  acquaintance  with  any  of  our  high-placed  beloved 
men,  I  was  very  unfit  to  handle  such  a  long  string  of 
queries.  He  said,  my  denying  to  gratify  their  curiosity 
on  so  material  a  point,  served  only  to  raise  it  the  higher : 
especially  as  I  had  given  them  a  very  favourable  opinion 
of  the  other  two  classes;  and  he  hoped  the  religious  men 
were  at  least  as  virtuous  as  those,  their  sacred  office  re- 
quiring them  to  give  an  honest  copy  to  all  others,  as  the 
young  people  imbibed  from  their  teacher's  example, 
either  good  or  bad  principles,  which  must  benefit  or  in- 
jure themselves,  and  the  community.     He  so  earnestly 


(  345  ) 

importuned  me  to  comply  with  his  request,  that  as  an 
Indian  divine  I  thus  addressed  the  attentive  red  con- 
gregation. 

In  past  ages,  most  part  of  all  nations  of  people  sunk 
into  ignorance,  not  only  of  the  old  beloved  speech,  (or 
divine  law  )  but  of  the  very  being  of  the  great,  supreme, 
holy  Spirit;  upon  which  account,  the  glimmering  ijnage 
impressed  on  their  hearts,  directed  them  to  worship  the 
sun,  moon,  and  stars,  because  of  their  beneficial  and 
powerful  influence, — and  the  fire,  light,  and  air,  the  three 
divine  names  and  emblems.  By  degrees,  they  chose  an 
idol-god  of  such  reputed  qualities  as  best  suited  with  their 
own  tempers,  and  the  situations  of  their  various  coun- 
tries, in  order  to  receive  temporal  good  things,  and  avert 
the  opposite  evils.  In  the  length  of  forgetting  time,  they 
became  so  exceeding  stupid  as  to  worship  vegetables, 
frightful  and  shameful  images,  filthy  beasts,  and  dan- 
gerous snakes.  Self-love  seemed  to  have  induced  them 
to  adore  the  two  last  through  fear,  and  the  bird  also  that 
preyed  on  them,  became  the  object  of  their  adoration. 
In  this  miserable  state  of  darkness  the  world  was  in- 
volved, when  the  supreme  fatherly  chieftain  through 
tender  pity  to  human  weakness,  appeared  to  your  re- 
puted ancestors  in  the  form  of  a  blazen  fire,  renewed  his 
old  divine  laws  with  one  of  their  beloved  men,  and  con- 
firmed the  whole  with  dreadful  thunders,  lightnings, 
and  other  striking  prodigies,  to  impress  them  with  a 
deep  awe  and  reverence  of  his  majesty.  In  time  the}' 
built  a  most  magnificent  beloved  house,  wonderful  in  its 
form,  and  for  the  great  variety  of  beloved  utensils,  and 
emblems  it  contained.  The  ark  was  one  of  the  three 
most  divine  symbols  in  it.  hhiohoollo  Eloha  became 
their  chieftain,  both  at  home  and  at  war.     A  wonderful 


(  346  ) 


I 


i 


■■¥, 


emanation  of  the  holy  fire  resided  in  the  great  divine 
house,  while  they  listened  to  the  voice  of  Louche,  "  the 
prophets,"  which  the  holy  chieftain  sent  to  them  in  suc- 
cession, to  teach  his  will  as  the  fixed  rule  of  all  his  actions. 
While  their  hearts  continued  honest,  he  enabled  them 
to  conquer  their  enemies,  and  to  gain  victories  over  for- 
midable armies,  which  like  the  swarms  of  buzzing  in- 
sects in  your  low  lands,  could  not  be  numbered  and  at 
length  settled  them  in  as  happy  a  state  as  they  could 
reasonably  wish  for. 

A  little  before  that  time,  he  called  himself  A-Do  Ne- 
Ko,  Minggo  Ishtohoollo,  "  the  divine  chief,"  but  then  to 
your  enlightened  (and  reputed)  ancestors,  Yo-IIe-  Wah, 
which  signifies,  "lived  always,  and  will  never  die."  It 
is  he  whom  you  invoke  in  j'^our  sacred  songs  when  you 
are  drinking  cusseena,  and  you  derived  that  awful  invo- 
cation, and  your  ark  of  war,  from  them.  He  is  the 
author  of  life  and  death,  and  consequently  the  "master 
of  our  breath,"  as  the  red  people  justly  term  him.  He 
gave  them  Loache  and  Oobache,  "Prophets  and  askers  ot 
rain,"  and  prescribed  to  them  laws  that  were  suitable 
for  their  own  government.  They  chiefly  consisted  of 
sacred  emblems  of  an  early  divine  promise  to  mankind, 
which  he  faithfully  performed ;  and  when  the  end  was 
answered,  those  symbols  ceased.  The  people  were  en- 
joined a  very  strict  purity,  both  in  civil  and  religious 
life,  especially  all  the  priests  or  beloved  men;  and  in  a 
particular  manner,  the  great  beloved  man  or  high  ^  i 
He  was  to  be  equally  perfect  in  body  and  pure  i 
and  was  not  allowed  to  touch  the  dead,  as  their  -lies 
were  in  a  corrupting  state.  The  old  beloved  speech 
assures  us,  he  was  appointed  as  a  representative  of  the 
people  to  Ishtohoollo  Aha,  and  as  a  lively  emblem  of  an 


1 


(  347  ) 

extraordinary  divine  person,  wlio  was  to  be  sent  to  in- 
struct the  whole  earth,  and  purify  them  from  all  pollu- 
tions; which  the  supreme  fatherly  chieftain  will  enable 
us  fully  to  inform  you  of  in  due  time.  He  came  accord- 
ing to  divine  appointment,  taught  the  people  as  man 
never  did  before,  cured  them  of  their  various  ailments, 
even  the  lame  and  the  blind  by  the  power  of  his  word 
and  a  bare  touch.  He  had  so  great  a  command  over 
nature,  that  through  pity  to  the  tender  tears  of  the 
people,  he  awaked  some  who  had  slept  a  considerable 
time  in  the  grave,  in  a  warm  country'.  They  who  strove 
to  lessen  the  merit  of  the  surprising  miracles  he  wrought, 
were  not  so  weak  as  to  deny  the  well  known  truth  of 
them,  as  they  had  been  performed  at  different  })lace8 
and  on  tiifferent  occasions,  before  a  gveat  many  j)eople, 
under  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  were  lasting.  At  last  he, 
as  an  uncommon  kindly  friend,  gave  up  his  innocent 
life  to  save  his  enemies  from  the  burning  wrath  of  the 
holy  fire  ;  and  while  the  anger  of  Loache  hhotohooUo  lay 
very  sharp  on  him,  as  the  atoning  victim,  and  his  ene- 
mies were  tormenting  him  with  the  most  exquisite 
tortures,  he  earnestly  spoke  the  beloved  speech,  and 
entreated  in  their  favour,  that  he  would  not  let  his  heart 
be  cross  with,  nor  revenge  his  blood  upon  them,  as  they 
imagined  they  were  acting  according  to  the  divine  law. 
As  soon  as  that  great  beloved  messenger  died  all  nature 
felt  a  prodigious  shock.  The  graves  opened  and  the 
dead  arose  to  see  the  cause  of  that  alarming  prodigy. 
The  earth  shook,  the  rocks  burst  asunder,  the  sun,  con- 
trary to  the  stpted  course  of  nature,  was  immediately 
darkened,  the  great  beloved  house  rent  asunder,  and  its 
lardian  angels  flew  off  to  other  countries.  His  death 
!^o  exceedingly  destroyed  the  power  of  Nana  Ookprooj 
;e  evil  spirits.     On  the  third  day,  the  master  of  breath 


<f} 


n 


fi!  r 


(  348  ) 

awakened  that  great  chieftain,  prophet  and  high  priest, 
according  to  his  former  true  speech;  and  when  he  arose, 
he  was  seen  by  multitudes  of  people,  and  fulfilled  the 
old  divine  law,  and  confirmed  every  thing  he  formerly 
taught  his  humble  and  kind  hearted  scholars. 

Till  then  there  was  only  twelve  of  them:  but  after- 
wards more  were  appointed  in  that  religious  station. 
They  urged,  that  their  sacred  office,  and  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  all  the  duties  attending  it,  engaged  their  close 
attention,  and  deserved  an  honest  maintenance ;  but  to 
check  a  covetous  spirit  among  all  beloved  men  of  every 
rank,  they  freely  spoke  the  beloved  speech  through 
every  known  country  of  the  world,  and  maintained 
themselves  by  their  own  industry.  As  they  travelled, 
eat,  drank  and  conversed  daily  with  the  greaff  divine 
messenger,  he  perfectly  taught  them  the  divine  law, 
which  your  supposed  ancestors  had  received  under  very 
strong  emblems.  After  his  death,  they  spoke  it  with 
great  boldness,  and  a  most  amazing  power.  They  truly 
marked  down  on  paper,  most  of  the  speeches  and  actions 
of  their  beloved  master  and  themselves,  without  con- 
cealing their  own  foibles,  for  our  instruction:  and  agreat 
many  true  copies  of  them  are  transmitted  over  every 
quarter  of  the  world,  in  differentlanguages,  which  agree 
together,  and  with  those  early  beloved  books;  though  it 
is  more  than  seventeen  hundred  years,  .since  they  were 
first  drawn  out  by  those  beloved  scholars.  As  their 
hearts  were  warmed  in  a  very  hisj;h  degree,  by  the  holy 
spirit  of  fire,  the  moral  part  of  their  lives  were  free  from 
blemish,  after  the  death  of  their  master.  In  imitation 
of  him,  they  sufiered  all  kinds  of  hardships,  difficulties 
and  dangers  of  life  that  human  beings  could  undergo, 
merely  through  a  principle  of  divine  love  working  in 


(349) 

them  for  the  jreneral  good  of  mankind ;  they  cured  the 
sick  and  diseased,  and  taught  every  one  the  true  beloved 
speech  to  purify  them.  As  they  were  not  proud,  they 
were  not  drawn  with  beautiful  prancing  horses  in  costly 
moving  houses,  but  walked  after  the  manner  of  their 
divine  master,  and  instructed  the  attentive  people,  by 
their  huml)le  example,  and  honest  lessons,  in  the  most 
assured  hope  of  receiving  from  Ishtohoollo  Aha,  a  reward 
equal  to  their  virtues,  after  they  died,  knowing  they  were 
to  live  anew  in  a  happy  state,  free  from  the  power  of 
death.  In  this  manner,  they,  by  the  earnest  beloved 
speech  of  the  great  divine  messenger,  were  cheerfully 
content,  and  firmly  trusted  in  the  goodness  of  the 
fatherly  chieftain.  Indeed,  soon  after  they  entered  into 
their  sacred  office,  they  were  jealous  of  their  master's 
giving  preference  to  one,  before  the  other  of  them ;  but 
he  gave  a  strong  lesson  of  humility  and  kindness  for 
them,  and  all  succeeding  beloved  men  to  pursue,  by 
washing  and  wiping  their  feet  with  his  own  hands ;  and 
he  assured  them  M<o/ioo//o  would  esteem  them  most  who 
acted  best. 

All  those  beloved  men,  who  do  not  join  in  religious 
communion  with  Oohachc  Ishtohoollo,  tvW  us,  that  ancient 
records  affirm,  all  of  the  priestly  order  (  after  the  death 
of  the  divine  messenger  )  were  ec^ual  in  their  religious 
office,  that  difference  excepted,  which  is  always  due  to  a 
virtuous  seniority — and  that  as  wisdom  and  virtue 
equally  accompany  either  youth,  middle,  or  old  age, 
they  continued  that  brotherly  state  of  religious  simpli- 
city, according  to  thetruecopy  of  the  liumblc,  all-loving, 
and  beloved  mesnenger,  for  the  space  of  three  hundred 
years  after  th'it  period — and  that,  as  the  s})eech  of  the 
great  divine  messenger  was  marked  in  a  copious  Ian- 


(  350  ) 


Ki ; 


guage,  which  abounded  with  various  words  to  express  the 
same  thing,  the  names  of  old  men  overseers  and  bishops, 
signify  one  and  the  same  rank  of  beloved  men  of  the  be- 
loved house,  according  to  the  former  humble  conduct  of 
their  divine  master;  but  that  the  words  are  now  tortured 
through  mercenary  views,  contrary  to  the  plain  simpli- 
city of  the  primitive  teachers.  As  holy  things,  and  white 
emblems  are  easily  polluted  and  tarnished  by  people  of 
impure  hearts,  and  unclean  hands,  the  divine  law  began 
then  to  lose  its  quickening  influence  over  the  beloved 
men  of  those  large  countries,  where  the  sun  rises  out  of 
the  l)road  water.  Their  disputes  ran  high,  and  the  longer 
they  lasted  the  sharper  they  grew.  They,  atlast  referred 
them  to  the  decision  of  the  beloved  men,  toward  the 
place  where  the  daily  sun  is  drowned  in  the  great  salt 
water,  which  is  called  Rome.  As  in  affairs  of  state,  so 
in  religion,  a  remarkable  precedent  begets  a  custom,  and 
this  becomes  a  law  with  societies.  In  conse(|uence 
thereof,  an  order  of  superior  beloved  men  laid  hold  of 
this,  and  stretched  the  divine  speech,  so  as  to  answer 
their  mercenary  views. 

In  process  of  time,  there  sprung  up  a  pretended  great 
bringer  of  rain,  who  like  the  hurtful  spirits  of  corrupt 
darkness,  by  rejecting  the  divine  speech,  and  despising 
the  example  of  the  holy  messenger  and  his  scholars,  set 
up  arrogantly  for  himself,  against  the  supreme  chieftain 
of  the  rain  and  thunder,  claimed  the  tenth  basket-full 
of  the  new  harvest  according  to  the  obsolete  law  of  your 
supposed  ancestors,  and  even  forgave  adulterers,  thieves, 
liars,  incestuous  persons,  and  those  who  accompanied 
with  women  in  tlieir  lunar  retreats,  without  any  sort  of 
purification,  if  they  only  paid  him  such  a  quantity  of 
yellow  stone,  as  he  proportioned  to  the  various  degrees 


Ksammmsamesmismmmmmi^mm 


MH 


WSf^ 


(  351  ) 

of  each  crime  they  committed.  To  enrich  himself  by 
their  weakness,  his  whole  tribe  of  black-dressed  mission- 
aries, by  strict  order,  frightened  the  ignorant  and  credu- 
lous, with  the  wild  notion  of  wandering  after  death  in 
the  accursed  place  of  darkness  without  any  possibility 
ofavoidinji;  that  dreadful  fate  unless  the}'  revealed  all 
their  crimes  to  them,  and  paid  them  a  fixed  price.  Be- 
cause pi  Ide  and  envy  had  spoiled  some  of  the  spirits 
above,  and  made  them  accursed  beings ;  therefore,  the 
messenger  of  Ishtohoollo,  as  I  told  you,  strongly  checked 
the  like  disposition  in  its  first  a})pearance  among  his 
scholars.  But  the  pride  of  the  Romish  chieftain,  and 
desire  of  absolute  religious  and  civil  power,  became  so 
unbounded  as  to  claim  an  unlimited  authority  over  all 
the  great  chieftains  on  earth ;  and  he  boasted  of  being  so 
highly  actuated  by  the  unerring  divine  wisdom,  as  to 
know  and  do  everything  perfectly.  He  at  the  same 
time,  ordered  all  his  scholars  to  involve  the  people  in 
thick  clouds  of  darkness,  and  impress  them  with  a  firm 
belief,  that  ignorance  produces  virtue.  He  invented  a 
third  state  for  the  sake  of  his  temporal  interest,  fixing  it 
half  way  between  people's  favourite  place  of  living  anew, 
and  that  of  the  horrible  darknes.s,  which  was  to  be  a 
vomiting  or  purging  stateof  the  dead,  and  called  it  pur- 
gatory ;  where  the  dead  must  unavoidably  call  and  be 
detained  till  surviving  relations  satisfied  them  for  their 
enlargement.  He  became  so  highly  intoxicated  by 
pride  and  power,  that  he  erected  images  of  such  dead 
people  as  most  resembled  himself,  with  various  other 
objects  for  the  living  to  invoke,  instead  of  the  great  eter- 
nal Yo  He  Walt,  whom  you  supplicate  in  your  religious 
invocations:  and  he  marked  for  his  l)lack  scholars  a 
great  many  very  evil  speeches,  and  spoke  them  with  a 


ty 


\^ 


.t    'I 


(  352  ) 

strong  mouth  and  ill  heart,  and  enforced  them  by  swords 
and  fiery  faggots,  contrary  to  the  old  beloved  speech 
which  was  confirmed  by  the  anointed  messenger. 

At    length,   the    holy   spirit    of  fire  influenced  two 
great  beloved  men  in  particular,  according  to  a  former 
prediction,  to  speak  to  the  people  with  a  strong  mouth, 
as  witnesses  of  the  divine  truth.  Their  ears  were  honest 
in  hearing  the  old  beloved  speech,  and  it  sunk  deep  into 
their  hearts.      But  a  great  many  superstitious  customs 
still  remained  for  they  had  aimed  at  a  perfect  establish- 
ment of  the  divine  law  in  their  religious  worship,  prob- 
ably the  high  placed  religious  men  through  a  covetous 
spirit  would  have  opposed  the  reformation  with  all  their 
might ;    as  very  few  of  them  endeavoured  to  teach  the 
young  people,  by  honest  examples  to  live  a  virtuous  life, 
or  enable  them  to  get  refreshing  showers  from  Ishtohoolla 
Aha  to  make  plentiful  harvest — and  yet  they  claimed 
a  great  part  ot  it  and  even  of  the  seed  corn,  without 
the  least  exemption  of  the  poor,  contrary  to  the  tender 
feelings  even  of  our  indigent  warriors  and  great  canoe 
men,  who  stretch    out   a   kindly   hand   to  their  poor 
brethren.     That  part   of  the   old  beloved  speech,  the 
tenth  basket-full,  was  calculated  only  for  your  predeces- 
sors, who  consisted  of  twelve  families ;   one  of  which 
was  devoted  to  the  divine  service.    Therefore,  they  were 
allowed  some  part  of  the  religious  offerings,  and  of  the 
yearly  produce  of  the  land  to  make  their  own  and  their 
families  hearts  rejoice,  and  at  the  same  time  to  keep 
them  humble,  and  make  th    a  hospitable  to  the  widow, 
the  fatherless  and  the  stranger.     They  like  the  humble 
scholars  of  the  great  beloved  messenger  were  always 
poor;  they  honestly  minded  their  religious  duty,  and 
were  not  allowed  to  purchase  any  land,  nor  to  expose 


J  swords 
I  speech 
r. 

ced  two 
I  former 
mouth, 
e  honest 
eep  into 
3Ustoms 
tablish- 
3,  prob- 
ovetous 
ill  their 
ich  the 
)us  life, 
tohoolla 
laimed 
dthout 
tender 

canoe 
r  poor 
ih,  the 
3deces- 
which 
y  were 
of  the 
i  their 

keep 
/idow. 
Limbic 
Iwiiys 
',  and 
xpose 


(  353  ) 

their  virtue  to  the  temptations  of  heaping  up  yellow 
stone,  or  employing  their  minds  on  anything,  except  the 
divme  law. 

The  lives  and  manners  of  the  early  teachers  of  the 
speech  of  the  divine  messenger  as  I  before  told  you 
were  also  strictly  just  and   blameless.      They  equally 
taught  by  precept  and  example;  and  their  lessons,  like 
those  of  their  great  master,  were  plain,  simple  and  liolv 
They  were  humble  in  their  behaviour,  and  moderate  in 
their  apparel,  food,  and  drink,  and  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  religious  office:  instead  of  assuming  the 
arrogant  title  of  divine  chieftains,  they  honestly  gave 
themselves  the  lowly  name  of  Imoksare  Mtohoolb,  "Ser- 
vants  of  God,"  in  imitation  of  the  life,  precept  and  ex- 
ample  of  the  holy  messenger,  which  strongly  actuated 
their  honest  hearts.     When  they  were  weary  after  the 
toils  of  the  day,  after  instructing  the  people,  and  work- 
ing at  their  trade,  as  your  beloved  men  do,  they  joyfullv 
rested   themselves  in   their  humble   cottages,  and  re- 
freshed themselves  with  their  homely  fare;    and  there 
they  instructed  the  young  people  to  invoke  the  divine 
io  He  Wah,  and  speak  the  divine  speech.     In  this  reli- 
gious manner  they  spent  their  time  through  various 
countries,  by  the  direction  of  divine  wisdom,  as  a  strong 
pointed  lesson  tc  all  succeeding  beloved  men  to  pursue 
and  they  sealed  the  truth  with  their  blood-such  were 
the  primitive  teachers  of  the  divine  woild.    They  lived 
and  died  in  a  state  of  equality;  and  were  there  any  dif- 
ferent  degrees  to  be  observed  in  the  holy  office  of  reli- 
gion, learning  and  piety  siiould  recommend  i)oor  beloved 
men  to  the  high  seats  of  profit-but  only  toilsome  places 
are  now  allotted  them,  with  an  allowance  insufficient  to 
support  themselves,  so  that  they  cannot  stretch  out  their 
kindly  hand  to  the  poor. 


r  ' 

M 


i-  ^ 


0 


I'       : 


(  354  ) 

The  mouths  and  hearts  of  the  superior  beloved  men 
in  our  day,  shamefully  contradict  one  another,  to  tlie 
discredit  of  the  lively  copy  of  the  holy  messenger  and 
his  beloved  scholars,  and  the  great  danger  of  infecting 
those  of  inferior  rank,  by  so  pernicious  and  corrupt  an 
example;  for  it  is  natural  for  the  feet  to  follow  the  di- 
rection of  the  head.  They  were  formerly  a  very  insolent, 
covetous  and  troublesome  set;  and  being  advanced  by 
rich  friends  to  the  high  sounding  office  of  Mingo  Ishto- 
hoollo,  "Divine  chieftains,"  or  in  their  own  stile,  "Right 
Reverend  Fathers  in  God,"  princes  and  supporters  of 
the  church,  great  was  their  arrogance  and  power — taking 
advantage  of  the  corruption  of  the  times,  they  grafted 
themselves  into  the  civil  constitution,  and  to  preserve 
their  high  and  profitable  places  they  became  the  fixed 
and  strenuous  supporters  of  courts,  in  all  their  measures. 
But  they  will  soon  be  purified.  The  beloved  speech  of 
Inhtohoollo  of  old,  has  announced  it  and  that  is  always 
true.  It  has  pointed  to  the  present  and  approaching 
time,  which  is  near  to  the  end  of  measured  time. 

To  shew  you  how  well  prepared  those  priestly  princes 
are  for  that  period,  I  shall  give  you  the  general  opinion 
of  the  wise  and  honest  })eople,  on  this  and  the  other  side 
of  the  broad  water;  by  which  you  will  see  how  far  they 
agree  with,  or  differ  from,  the  original  copy  of  the  plain 
honest  scholrrs  of  the  anointed  holy  messenger. 

They  boast  themselves  to  be  the  embassadors  of  the 
holy  chicfiam  of  the  high  church.  They  dwell  in  costly 
great  houses,  after  the  sujjerb  manner  of  our  great  civil 
chieftain;  and  they  give  them  the  same  lofty  name. 
Palaces,  to  distinguish  them  from  the  dwelling  houses 
of  other  mortals.  Their  dress  is  equally  rich  and  singu- 
ar,  to  strike  the  eye,  and  impress  the  hearts  of  the  vulgar 


(  355  ) 


plain 

)f  the 

mostly 

civil 

lame. 

)use8 

ingu- 

ilgar 


with  a  profound  reverence  of  the  divine  priestly  wearers. 
They  have  the  revenue  of  princes  to  support  their 
grandeur;  and  they  are  most  exact  in  having  it  collected 
by  litigious  mercenaries,  even  to  the  tenth  of  the  hive 
of  bees,  and  of  the  unlawful  and  filthy  young  swine ; 
and  yet  they  act  the  part  of  Phohe  Jshto,  "Great  drones, 
or  drones  of  God,"  as  soon  as  they  obtain  their  rich  high 
seat,  not  speaking  the  divine  speech  to  the  j)eople  hardly 
three  times  a  year.  Their  food  consists  of  a  great  variety 
of  the  choicest,  and  most  delicious  sorts  of  fish,  flesh, 
and  fowl ;  their  drink  is  of  the  richest  white,  yellow,  and 
red  grape  water,  with  other  costly  liquors  which  your 
language  cannot  express.  They  resort  to  the  most  gay 
assemblies  in  the  world,  for  the  sake  of  pleasure,  leaving 
the  multitude  to  the  divine  care,  or  the  speakings  of 
poor  religious  men  who  are  hired  at  low  wages  to  do 
their  duty,  as  they  themselves  have  enough  to  mind  and 
secure  properly  temporal  concerns.  In  this  manner  do 
these  lamps  shine,  and  spend  their  days  and  nights,  like 
the  great  chieftains  of  the  earth ;  and  when  they  die, 
their  bodies  are  laid  apart  from  the  rest  of  mankind,  in 
polished  and  costly  tombs  adorned  with  the  nice  strokes 
of  art,  to  perpetuate  their  names — the  long  train  of  virtues 
they  so  highly  possessed — their  great  learning  and  elo- 
quence— the  simplicity  of  their  lives  and  manners — their 
faithful  discharge  of  the  various  duties  of  their  religious 
high  oflice — their  contemj)t  of  the  grandeur  and  vanities 
of  this  transient  world — their  tenderness  of  heart  to  the 
of   the   i)Oor:    and   their   singular   modesty   and 


cries 


humility,  a  shining  copy  of  imitation  for  common  priests, 
and  other  spiritual  chieftains  to  pursue.  These  fine 
monuments  are  very  pleasing  to  the  eye,  but  honest  men 
say  that  mercenary  writers  and  artists  do  not  act  right 
to  belie  the  dead. 


(  356  ) 


IS' 


7 


¥*id'i 


My  red  beloved  friends,  such  is  the  reputed  life  and 
death  of  those  high  seated  divine  chieftains  of  the  high 
church ;  your  sharp  natural  reason  will  discern  the  close 
agreement  there  is  between  the  humility  and  simplicity 
of  their  principles  and  lives,  with  those  of  the  early 
overseers  of  the  lowly  divine  house.  It  is  said  that 
some  great  beloved  men  have  an  earnest  desire  of  send- 
ing a  few  of  their  own  high  office,  to  the  side  of  the 
broad  water,  in  order  to  appoint  young  beloved  men ; 
but  we  strongly  suspect  a  dangerous  snake  in  the  grass; 
and  esteeming  them  dead  to  the  true  interests  of  religion 
and  liberty,  we  think  they  ought  to  keep  them  at  home, 
and  even  recall  their  present  troublesome  missionaries 
from  our  settlements,  and  allow  us  to  enjoy  our  former 
peace  and  quiet — We  wish  them  to  go  to  some  poor  dark 
countries,  and  instruct  the  people  in  the  honest  lessons 
of  peace,  love  and  charity ;  which  they  would,  if  they 
only  aimed  at  the  good  of  mankind,  and  the  honour  of 
the  supreme  chieftain,  according  to  the  plain  copy  of 
the  great  beloved  messenger  and  his  kind  hearted  faith- 
ful scholars.  We  wish  the  civil  powers  would  not 
tempt  the  religious  men's  virtue  by  such  alluring  deli- 
cious baits  as  they  propose  to  them,  and  that  all  ranks 
would  become  frugal  and  virtuous. 

Thus  ended  my  Lecture.  The  reverend  old  red  pon- 
tiff immediately  asked,  whether  they  had  the  accursed 
beings  on  the  other  side  of  the  water?  I  told  him  I 
hoped  not — but  the  religious  men  often  spoke  a  strong 
speech  of  evil  to  those  they  reckoned  very  bad,  and 
turned  them  out  of  the  beloved  house,  to  the  evil  spirits 
of  darkness.  Upon  which  he  requested  me  to  mention 
any  one  of  the  crimes  that  might  occasion  such  treat- 
ment.   I  have  told  him, "  I  heard  of  a  gentleman,  whose 


■IF 


JCjr.-rtcM 


ited  life  and 
5  of  the  high 
iern  the  close 
id  simplicity 
of  the  early 
is  said  that 
sire  of  send- 

side  of  the 
jloved  men; 
in  the  grass; 
ts  of  religion 
im  at  home, 
missionaries 

our  former 
le  poor  dark 
nest  lessons 
uld,  if  they 
3  honour  of 
lin  copy  of 
larted  faith- 
would  not 
luring  deli- 
-t  all  ranks 

»ld  red  pon- 
le  accursed 
told  him  I 
ke  a  strong 
y  bad,  and 
evil  spirits 
to  mention 
such  treat- 
nan,  whose 


(  357  ) 

heart  did  not  allow  him  to  love  his  lady  sufficiently  and 
she  having  by  a  sharp  watching  discovered  him  to  love 
another,  complained  of  it  to  a  great  beloved  man ;  ac- 
cordingly, either  for  the  neglect,  or  wrong  application  of 
his  love  duty,  he  was  ordered  to  pay  her  a  considerable 
sum  of  money— he  valuing  it  more  than  her,  his  heart 
did  not  allow  him  to  give  so  much :  whereupon  a  sharp 
speech  of  evil  was  spoken  against  him,  and  by  that 
means  he  was  said  to  become  accursed."    My  Indian 
friend  said,  as  marriage  should  beget  joy  and  happiness, 
instead  of  pain  and  misery,  if  a  couple  married  blind- 
fold, and  could  not  love  each  other  afterwards,  it  was  a 
crime  to  continue  together,  and  a  virtue  to  part,  and 
make  a  happier  choice;  and  as  the  white  people  did  not 
buy  their  wives  after  the  manner  of  the  Indians,  but 
received  value  along  with  them,  in  proportion  to  their 
own  possessions,  whatsoever  the  woman  brouglit  with 
her  she  ought  to  be  allowed  to  take  back  when  they 
separated,  that  her  heart  might  weigh  even  and  noth- 
ing be  spoiled.— That,  in  his  opinion,  such  determina- 
tions belonged  to  the  law  and  not  to  the  great  beloved 
men :  and,  if  he  understood  me  aright,  the  beloved  man 
threw  away  the  gentleman  to  the  accursed  beings  of 
darkness,  not  for  having  acted  anything  against  the 
divine  law,  but  for  daring  to  oppose  the  words  of  his 
mouth,  in  imitation  of  the  first  presumptuous  great 
beloved  man,  who  spoiled  the  speech  of  the  divine  mes- 
senger.    Many  natural,  pertinent,  and  humorous  obser- 
vations, were  made  by  him  on  what  he  had  heard. 


THE  END. 


